KZ087
Saumalkol Lake


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important in 2006 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):
Species Red List Category Season Year(s) Population estimate at site IBA criteria met
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala EN passage 2006 213 individuals A1
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula LC passage 2006 1,500 individuals A4i
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a passage 2006 15,000-100,000 individuals A4iii

The current IUCN Red List category (shown above) may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2006).


IBA Conservation

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2017 near favourable high high
Was the whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes habitat good

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Scientific name Common name Reference population Actual population Units % of population remaining Result
Cygnus cygnus Whooper Swan 1 1 individuals 100 favourable
Tadorna ferruginea Ruddy Shelduck 80 80 individuals 100 favourable
Aythya fuligula Tufted Duck 720 200 individuals 28 very unfavourable
Mareca strepera Gadwall 1 10 individuals 100 favourable
Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe 20 1 individuals 5 very unfavourable
Fulica atra Common Coot 8200 4 individuals 1 very unfavourable
Vanellus vanellus Northern Lapwing 1 1 individuals 100 favourable
Larus ridibundus Black-headed Gull 1 1 individuals 100 favourable
Larus canus Mew Gull 1 1 individuals 100 favourable
Circus aeruginosus Western Marsh-harrier 1 1 individuals 100 favourable
Circus macrourus Pallid Harrier 1 1 individuals 100 favourable
Alauda arvensis Eurasian Skylark 1 20 individuals 100 favourable
Anthus campestris Tawny Pipit 2 2 individuals 100 favourable
Motacilla flava Western Yellow Wagtail 5 5 individuals 100 favourable

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat Habitat detail Reference area (ha) Actual area (ha) Habitat quantity (% remaining) Habitat quality (carrying capacity) Result
Grassland Steppes & dry calcareous 0 0 moderate (70-90%) good (> 90%) near favourable
Wetlands (inland) Standing brackish & salt water 0 0 good (> 90%) good (> 90%) favourable
Wetlands (inland) Water-fringe vegetation 0 0 good (> 90%) good (> 90%) favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1 Threat level 2 Timing Scope Severity Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification annual & perennial non-timber crops - small-holder farming happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Agricultural expansion and intensification livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - small-holder grazing, ranching or farming happening now some of area/population (10-49%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Biological resource use hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - motivation unknown/unrecorded happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Human intrusions and disturbance work and other activities happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Pollution agricultural & forestry effluents - type unknown/unrecorded happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Pollution garbage & solid waste happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation Management planning Other conservation action Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity high
For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

Habitats

Habitat (IUCN level 1) Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Grassland Steppes & dry calcareous -
Wetlands (inland) Standing brackish & salt water, Water-fringe vegetation -
For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
hunting -
rangeland/pastureland -

Land ownership
Mixed state and private (farmers own a minor part).


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Saumalkol Lake. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/saumalkol-lake-iba-kazakhstan on 19/03/2024.