Ertis Ormany (Shaldai Forest) (22141)
Kazakhstan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, A1c, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Ertis Ormany (Shaldai Forest)
Central coordinates: Latitude: 51.8333, Longitude: 78.8333
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 300 to 400
Area of KBA (km2): 2915.09413
Protected area coverage (%): 99.90
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site is situated in the south-east corner of Pavlodar region close to borders with the Eastern Kazakhstan region and Russia. Ertys Ormany (Shaldai forest) consists of an extensive assemblage of woodland belts and insular patches of pines intermixed with birch, poplar and willow growth extending northwards from Shalda. The main part of the forest lies on loamy soils and much of the area shows the scars of previous fires.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: The site has an avifauna typical of large pine forests with generally low numbers of individual species. During surveys in 2005-2006 101 species were recorded, nine of which are nationally protected concern and 5 species of global conservation concern. Characteristic species are Parus montanus, Dendrocopus major, Buteo buteo, Streptopelia turtur and Lyrurus tetrix. Non-bird biodiversity: The forest consists of woodland stands separated by glades and larger plots of steppe with abundant scrub. The edges of the pine woods frequently include stands of deciduous species such as Willow, Poplar and Birch.
Habitats
Land use: forestry (100%) | hunting (80%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 10 | |
| Grassland | 10 | |
| Forest | 75 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The major threats are unlicensed logging, the removal of deadwood or dying trees and -fires (often deliberately started).
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Karyakin I.V., Levin A.S., Barabashin T.O., Karpov F.F. Results of ornithological inspection of the fragments of forest-steppe massifs in the north-east of Kazakhstan, in 2005. / Birds of prey and their protection. 4, 2005, P. 34-43. (in Russian) Karpov F.F., Levin A.S., Karyakin I.V., Barabashin T.O. A set of data accrued through the cursory survey of forest-steppe massifs of Kazakhstan in 2005. // Kazakhstan Ornithological Bulletin, 2005. Almaty, 2006. P. 45-52. (in Russian) Kovshar A.F., Khrokov V.V. On ornithofauna of the Pavlodar-region-bound Trans-Irtysh area. // Fauna and biology of birds of Kazakhstan. Almaty, 1993,P. 133-144. (in Russian) Prokopov K.P., Starikov S.V., Bratash I. V. The Vertebrates of Eastern Kazakhstan. Ust’-Kamenogorsk, 2002, 206 p. (in Russian)