 |
|
Zharsor-Urkash National Nature Reserve Established
The Government Resolution of the Republic of Kazakhstan #570 on the "Establishment of Zharsor-Urkash National Nature Zakaznik (Reserve) of Republican Significance” was signed on June 11, 2008.
From 2005 to 2008, comprehensive studies of the Zharsor-Urkash lake system were made within the framework of the Siberian Crane Wetland Project (SCWP). The lake system is located in southeastern Kamystin district in the Kostanayskoy region, approximately 10 km to the southwest of Druzhba village. The area of the zakaznik is 29,334.1 ha of sand and feather-grass steppes with numerous deep hollows of fresh water and salty lakes.
The vertebrate fauna includes 30 mammal species, 152 bird, 3 reptile, 2 amphibian and 3 fish species. During the periods of seasonal migration, the lakes provide habitat for a great number of waterbirds. Flocks of tens of thousands of shorebirds stop on the shores of the salty lakes to feed during spring migration. Large numbers of geese, including Red-breasted Geese and Lesser White-fronted Geese stop there in the autumn.
Globally threatened and rare bird species inhabit the area. The Red Book of Kazakhstan and IUCN* lists include 15 species. There are nesting grounds of Little Bustard (NT), Demoiselle Crane, Pallid Harrier (NT), White-headed Duck (EN) and Sociable Lapwing (CR). Migratory species include Whooper Swan, Bewick’s Swan, Red-breasted Goose (EN), Lesser White-fronted Goose (VU), Ferruginous Duck (NT), White-tailed Eagle, Imperial Eagle (VU), Greater Spotted Eagle (VU), Steppe Eagle, Saker (EN) and Siberian Crane (CR).
The flora includes 119 species of higher plants representing 25 families. There are species rare for the steppe zone: on saline soil areas - Anabasis salsa, in lake hollows there are thick bushes of valuable medicinal herbs - Glycyrrhiza glabra and Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Some species are included in the Red Book of Kazakhstan: Stipa pennata, Tulipa schrenkii, Tulipa biflora, Tulipa patens, Pulsatilla flavescens, Adonis volgensis and Ornithogalumfischerianum.
Regular spring and autumn monitoring of waterbirds has confirmed that the project site hosts large concentrations of Eurasian and Demoiselle Cranes during autumn migration. Their numbers on some days reaches 15,000 birds. In addition, the rare Siberian Crane, only a few of which remain in Western and Central Asia, stops here together with the other crane species.
Establishment of the zakaznik was included into the workplan of the project as well as the Conservation Plan for 2004-2006 under the Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of Animals Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of the Siberian Crane (CMS MoU). In May 2007, this area was officially included in the Western/Central Asian Site Network for Siberian cranes and other waterbirds (WCASN) under the CMS MoU.
A project expert prepared nomination documents for inclusion of the Zharsor-Urkash lakes area into the List of Wetlands of International Importance, which were submitted to the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention by the Forestry and Hunting Committee (FHC) in March 2008.
Within the framework of the project in 2005-2006, maps of ecosystems were prepared, the database and GIS for ecological monitoring was created, and an analysis was conducted of the results of studies made by the experts of the Institute of Zoology and other international projects over the previous 20 years, providing scientific evidence of the global value of the zakaznik area.
In 2006, Zharsor and Urkash lakes were officially included in the list of key Important Bird Areas (IBA) of Kazakhstan in cooperation with the Association on the Conservation of Biodiversity in Kazakhstan under the IBA programme (BirdLife International, ACBK).
Sociological studies have shown that there are considerable threats, both for cranes, and the natural complex as a whole. Scientific and feasibility studies on the organization of Zharsor-Urkash National Nature Zakaznik were prepared within the framework of the project in connection with the global significance of the area. In December 2007, a positive decision on the ecological expertise and the Technical Council of FHC was made.
The project experts express sincere gratitude to the employees of the Department of Animal Species and personally to Mr. Khairbek Mussabayev, Vice-chairman of the FHC for assistance in the establishment of the zakaznik, which is a great contribution to the conservation of this unique natural complex.
*IUCN Red List categories for globally threatened species are indicated in brackets after the birds listed: CR – Critically Endangered; EN – Endangered; V – Vulnerable; NT – Near Threatened.
For more information on this program please contact:
Vera Inyutina, SCWP National Project Manager
Astana city, Kazakhstan
tel/fax.: 8-717-2-34-01-45
E-mail: vera.inyutina@mail.ru
http://www.scwpkaz.kepter.kz/
-:- -:- -:- -:- -:- -:- -:-
|
|
