Mashankul and Khojakul lake complex (45248)
Uzbekistan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2013
National site name: Mashankul and Khojakul lake complex
Central coordinates: Latitude: 43.2595, Longitude: 58.8622
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 48 to 59
Area of KBA (km2): 50.75208
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The area of IBA is 5070 hectares. The lake complex consists from Khojakul and Mashankul lakes. The Khojakul lake is located on the territory of Muynak district, and Mashankul lake - on the territory of the Kungrad district. Nearest settlement “Doslyk” is located in 8 km to the northeast of the IBA, and the Mashanaul settlement in 11 km to the south. The lakes have different sources- Khojakul lake fed by the waters of Ustyurt collector and partially from the Suenli channel (This provides a relatively low salinity of the water in the lake), and the Mashankul lake fed from the Kattagar channel. The maximum depth of the Khojakul lake is 3.5 m, and the Mashankul lake is 5 m.
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: The 89 bird species were registered in 2012-2013 on this system, including 63 nesting birds. Among them 10 included in National Red List and 2 (Ferruginous Duck and Roller) included in IUCN Red list. This area is a key nesting place for waterbirds in this region, because of the numerous thick reeds which surrounded water and open shorelines. The Whooper Swan, herons, cormorants, coot, grebes, Glossy Ibis, Ferruginous Duck, other ducks and waders nest here. In reeds the Black headed Penduline Tit nests, on adjacent areas the Pheasant nests. During migration the big congregations of waterbirds were observed here, the dominant species are Coot, Red crested Pochard, Green Sandpiper. It is important to continue the observations on this area to complete full ornithological situation. There are 3 criteria - A1, A4i and A4iii. Criterion A1: Ferruginous Duck. Criterion A4i: Glossy Ibis. Criterion A4iii: During the spring survey in March 2013 on the territory of the proposed IBA the 22,023 waterbirds was observed, among the species the dominant was Coot (more than 8 thousand). According to oral reports of local fishermen during migration on the lakes more than 25-30 thousand waterfowl are concentrated (Mallard, Red crested Pochard, Pochard, Ferruginous Duck. The main types of vegetation here are hydrophytes and halophytes. This lake system almost universally characterized by a high density of plants. Reedbeds constitute 65-70% of the water body, mostly on the coastal zone. Algae (hara, several species of pondweed) amounts to 20 to 40% of the area of the reservoir. The main commercial fish in the system - carp, silver carp, snakehead. There are numerous following mammals - wild boar, jackal, muskrat, badger, are the subject of commercial hunting. On the banks, among the thickets of tamarisk hares and foxes are numerous .
Other site values: State grounds, the territory has tenants. There is no data on them. Proposed IBA has great fishery value, also as hunting place. Open areas use as pastures (30% IBA).
Delineation rationale: The eastern boundary of porposed IBA starts from the most southern point 1 (43°11'57.59'N 58°50'12.30'E) and goes to the north-east by the ground road to a point 2 (43°13'35.93'N 58°51'57.58'E) on-site meeting with the channel Kattagar. Next, from point 2 on the ground road that goes along the channel Kattagar to north-east to point 3 (43°14'2.47'N 58°52'18.07'E), where the line crosses the Kattagar. From point 3 on the ground road to the north along the eastern border of the waterbody to point 4 (43°15'29.45'N 58°53'32.88'E) at the confluence of the second channel in the system. From point 4 along the channel to the east to point 5 (43°15'5.78'N 58°54'36.94'E), and from there to the point 6 (43°17'15.44'N 58°55'11.74'E) to north on notional straight line. From point 6 the northern boundary goes to the point 7 (43°18'3.72'N 58°53'25.61'E) to the west and northwest of the nearest ground road to the waterbody. From the point 7 to 8 (43°17'47.87'N 58°50'49.01'E) to the west of the conventional straight line separating Khojakul and Zhaugyrkul lakes. The western border starts with 8 points and is on the path to the south to a point 9 (43°17'12.64'N 58°50'22.37'E), and further to the southeast along the channel to the point of 10 (43°16'36.13'N 58°50'46.60'E). Then, down the channel to the south-west up to 11 points (43°15'7.36'N 58°49'0.78'E). which begins farm. Rounding it to the eastern border to the point 12 (43°14'52.15'N 58°49'3.14'E). From point 12 to point 13 (43°14'32.91'N 58°49'17.13'E) on conventional straight line to the southeast, and then on a dirt road to the south to a point 14 (43°12'37.59'N 58°49'13.01'E). The southern boundary goes from point 14 to point 1 on the south-east on the conventional straight line.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The open water is about 30% of porposed IBA. The lakes have the following character of coastline - brokenness sloping, steep, and consists of many open water surface (Maral Aydin, Koptinkul, Asan oh, Kara Aydin, Aydin takyr ). About 40% of territory is of dense reeds (reeds 80% and cattail 20%). Other adjacent territory - 10% sandy desert, 20% low bushes. This area is over gazed, but general condition of habitats is satisfactory
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture (30%) | forestry (1%) | hunting (100%) | rangeland/pastureland (30%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 70 | |
| Shrubland | 20 | |
| Desert | 10 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: 1. Drought - the main limiting factor for the porposed IBA, regularly leads to a complete drying up of water bodies. In addition, on the west side of the Mashankul lake the collector 'Chinese construction' is much deeper than the lake. During low water all the waters of the lake go to the collector. 2. The coastal areas of most lakes are used as pastures. In particular, the spring fish spawn in shallow water, and grazing cows and horses trample it. 3. One of the threats is prohibited by clogging reservoirs disposable Chinese fishnets works that cause the death of aquatic diving birds, and also create a persistent pollution of water bodies in the coastal line. 4. Poaching - one of the main threats to the biodiversity of the lakes. During the expedition to the lakes observors met hunters in cars, every day shots were heard.
Additional information
References: 1. IUCN, 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.3 2. Ametov M.B., Matekova G.A., Ametov Ya.I. (2007). Potential Important Bird Areas of Karakalpakstan//Survey of Important Bird Areas in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Vol.2. Ashhabad, 73-74 p.[in russian] 3. Kashkarov, R. D., Welch, G. R. and Brombacher, M. Important Bird Areas in Uzbekistan - priority sites of conservation (2008). Tashkent, 192p. 4. The Red Data Book of the Uzbekistan. (2009) Vol. 2. Animals. Tashkent: Chinor ENK. 215 p. [in russian] 5. Ametov Ya.I., Zhumanov M.A., Arepbaev I., Usnatdinova Sh. (2012) Rare animals of Karakalpakstan and their conservation. IY International conference «The problems of rational using and protection of biological resources of Southern Aral region». Nukus, p. 16-17. [in russian] 6. Kashkarov R.D., Ten A.G., Matekova G.A., Atakhodjaev A.A. (2010) The current state of water bodies in Southern Aral region and their importance in avifauna conservation.// Surveys on Important Bird Areas in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Vol. 3. Tashkent. p. 9-16. [in russian] 7. Ametov Ya.I., Matekova G.A. (2012). The survey of unstable water bodies in Southern Aral Sea region. Report on field surveys 14-28 October 2012. Nukus-Tashkent, 44 p. [un publ]. [in russian]
Contributors: In October 2012 the members of Karakalpakstan branch of UzSBP with finance support of IFAS (International Fund of Aral Sea) were carried out a research project 'Study of fauna of unstable reservoirs in Southern Aral Sea Region.' In March and May 2013 they were carried out a research project 'Ornithological study of lakes and Mashankul and Khojakul during spring migration and nesting' with financial support of IFAS. Both studies were the basis for the description of the proposed IBA.