Middle reaches of the Sarysu River (21997)
Kazakhstan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Middle reaches of the Sarysu River
Central coordinates: Latitude: 47.0833, Longitude: 68.0000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 260 to 339
Area of KBA (km2): 1422.82491
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA covers the middle section of the Sarysu river valley, approximately 60 km to the south of the district centre of Zhezkazgan. Surrounded by clayey and chalky expanses of semi-desert plains, the Sarysu river valley is deeply cut into the huge plateau that it flows through from north-east to south-west. Within the IBA the river bed is an ancient flood valley, on average 1-1.5 km in width. Both banks of the river have an intricate gulley network and, apart from intermittent, poor quality woody and scrubby patches, is covered by dense reedbeds. The semi-desert plateau on the left bank has expansives salt-marshes and alkaline plots. Sparse Haloxylon stands constitute the only salient feature in the plateau’s landscape.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: The riverbank escarpments and nearest cliffs and gulleys of the plateau are important for nesting Bubo bubo, Aquila nipalensis, Falco tinnunculus and Falco naumanni. The flood plain itself is important for Circus macrourus and Phasianus colchicus. The plateau on the left bank, with its scanty stands of saxaul forest, is important for breeding Aquila heliaca and Buteo rufinus. Tetrax tetrax also occurs in this area.
Habitats
Land use: rangeland/pastureland
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | 90 | |
| Forest | 1 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 7 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 2 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There are two main man-made factors influencing raptor breeding sucess: the logging of saxaul groves and the abrupt halt in extensive grazing. The latter results in the growth of tall weed growth which, in due course, leads to a decline in local rodent populations and a decrease in food for birds of prey.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |