Govi Gurvan Saikhan Mountain (28298)
Mongolia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Govi Gurvan Saikhan Mountain
Central coordinates: Latitude: 43.7500, Longitude: 102.9167
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1000 to 2835
Area of KBA (km2): 5450.991
Protected area coverage (%): 94.93
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site is composed of mountainous areas in the eastern part of Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park. The national park is an area of natural beauty and an invaluable natural and cultural resource. The site is characterized as a high upland (around 1,000 m in elevation) with dry stream beds, punctuated by mountain ranges rising to 2,835 m, mountain massifs, hummocks and rocky outcrops. The site plays an important role in protecting the biodiversity of the region. Currently, the national park is used by over 1,000 herding households and 200,000 to 300,000 head of livestock. Controlling livestock grazing is diffi cult because of political and social constraints, but the park administration has started adopting a participatory approach towards management planning with local herders. Apart from a few tourist camps and one small natural history museum, there are no permanent structures within the park. Illegal and unregulated mining, livestock grazing and uncontrolled tourism are potential threats to the site.
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: Globally Threatened bird species found at the site comprise Saker Falcon Falco cherrug (EN), Lesser Kestrel F. naumanni (VU) and White-throated Bushchat Saxicola insignis (VU). The Near Threatened Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus also occurs. Nationally threatened species found at the site include Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus and Mongolian Accentor Prunella koslowi, a restricted-range species. The site also supports species restricted to the Eurasian high montane (alpine and Tibetan) biome, such as Altai Snowcock Tetraogallus altaicus. Non-bird biodiversity: Several mammal species of conservation concern survive at the site, including Siberian Ibex Capra sibirica, Snow Leopard Uncia uncia (EN), Argali Ovis ammon (NT), Eurasian Lynx Lynx lynx, Pallas’s Cat Felis manul (NT) and Stone Marten Martes foina.