Water reservation of Northern Chu Valley (27421)
Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2010
National site name: Water reservation of Northern Chu Valley
Central coordinates: Latitude: 43.0200, Longitude: 74.1067
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 649 to 670
Area of KBA (km2): 130.29603
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Lakes and reservoirs of Chu valley are situated 15 km north of Bishkek city. All these reservoirs are artificial with unstable water level. There are tree plantations along the banks of Ala-Archinski river. The landscape is steppe and farmlands.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: Criterion A3 is applied to the site because the ponds and water reservations provide staging ground for fall and spring migrants as well as wintering birds. Criterion A4i is applied to birds with increased numbers during breeding season: Great Cormorant, Black Tern, Night Heron and Black-winged Stilt. Pygmy Cormorant, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Avocet, Black Kite, Black-headed Gull are seen during winter and on passage. Apart from those listed, other species occurring on passage here include Little Bustard, Great Bustard, Avocet and wagtails. Ducks, Black-winged stilt, Grey and Night herons, Great and pygmy cormorants breed here.Little and Great Bustards, Avocet and wagtails. Ducks, Black-winged stilt, Grey and Night herons, Great and Pygmy cormorants breed here. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals occurring are: Corsac Fox, Yellow ground squirrel, European Badger
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture (50%) | forestry (10%) | hunting (10%) | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation (50%) | urban/industrial/transport (50%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | 5 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 10 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 86 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Fires(B), human disturbance (A), logging (B), tourism/recreation(A)
| 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 | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Ostashenko A.N.(2005)Mass congregation of Pygmy cormorant in Chu valley of Kyrgyzstan.// Ornithological bulletin. Ostashenko A.N.(1980)About the breeding of Black-winged stilt, Black-headed gull and Common tern in Chu valley. Ostashenko A.N.(1984) Winter population of birds of some urban landscapes of Chu valley. Umrikhina G.S (1974)Birds of Chu valley. Kumushaliev B. K., Ostashenko A. N.(2003)Breeding of Night heron in Chu valley.
Contributors: Data-sheet compiled in 2006 by S. S. Sagymbaev, received by BirdLife Cambridge May 2008, translated by Tsovinar Hovhannisyan in summer 2010, entered into WBDB by Rory McCann in autumn 2010.