Son-Kul Lake (27416)
Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2010
National site name: Son-Kul Lake
Central coordinates: Latitude: 41.8367, Longitude: 75.1733
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 3016 to 3016
Area of KBA (km2): 349.72433
Protected area coverage (%): 93.29
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Territory includes high mountainous lake Son-Kul and coastal wetland areas
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: Criterion A1 is applied to the site because of Black stork, Bar-headed goose, Saker falcon, Demoiselle crane, birds of prey: Bearded and Himalayan vultures, Golden eagle, are in Red List of Kyrgyzstan. Criterion A4iii is applied because of waterfowl and waterbirds that use lake during migration and molting. Also here is the breeding colony of Black-headed gull and the highest mountainous breeding population of Demoiselle crane.The lake is one of the breeding sites of Bar-headed goose, Black stork and large raptors. Ruddy shelduck and waders are concentrated here during the passage and molting. Site hosts 190 bird species. Non-bird biodiversity: Territory hosts more than 30 species of mammals such as Grey marmot, Fox, Wolf, Argali and Siberian Ibex. The Lake is home for 7 species of fish. Plant life presented here is ca. 300 species of plants mainly different species of sedges and fescue, reedmace and others along the shores.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Current status of ecosystems is satisfaying but an increased number of live stock population will result overgrazing and lead to degradation of pastures. The main factor of disturbance is fishing. Because of the disturbance the numbers of Bar-headed goose decreased from 30-40 breeding pairs to 1-2 breeding pairs
Land use: agriculture (30%) | nature conservation and research (40%) | tourism/recreation (20%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 40 | |
| Grassland | 30 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Agricultural intensification (A), fishing and havresting aquatic resources (B), human disturbance (A), shifting agriculture (B)
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Kidiraliev A. K. Birds of Son-Kul and Chatyr-Kul lakes. Kirgiz SSR, Vol. 4, Edition 1- Frunze, 1962 Kidiraliev A. K. Birds of reservoirs of Central Tian-Shan- Frunze: ilim, 1973 Kidiraliev A. K. Birds of lakes and montane rivers of Kyrgyzstan- Frunze: ilim, 1990
Contributors: Data-sheet compiled 29-09-2006 by S. V. Kulagin (NABU), received by BirdLife Cambridge May 2008, translated by Tsovinar Hovhannisyan in summer 2010, entered into WBDB by Rory McCann in autumn 2010.