• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

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	Current IUCN Red List Category	Season	Year(s)	Population estimate at site	IBA criteria met
Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus	LC	breeding	2002-2006	25-50 breeding pairs	A3
Goosander Mergus merganser	LC	resident	2002-2006	400-600 individuals	A4i
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea	LC	passage	2002-2006	900-3,000 individuals	A4i
Tibetan Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes tibetanus	LC	resident	2002-2006	30-50 individuals	A3
Lesser Sandplover Charadrius mongolus	LC	breeding	2002-2006	40-50 breeding pairs	A3
Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus	LC	breeding	2002-2006	25-50 breeding pairs	A3
Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis	NT	resident	2002-2006	2-4 breeding pairs	A3
Saker Falcon Falco cherrug	EN	winter	2002-2006	4 individuals	A1
Yellow-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus	LC	resident	2002-2006	100-150 breeding pairs	A3
Himalayan Rubythroat Calliope pectoralis	LC	breeding	2002-2006	5-8 breeding pairs	A3
White-winged Redstart Phoenicurus erythrogastrus	LC	breeding	2002-2006	10-15 breeding pairs	A3
Altai Accentor Prunella himalayana	LC	breeding	2002-2006	15-20 breeding pairs	A3
Brown Accentor Prunella fulvescens	LC	breeding	2002-2006	20-25 breeding pairs	A3
White-winged Snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis	LC	resident	2002-2006	100-200 breeding pairs	A3
Great Rosefinch Carpodacus rubicilla	LC	resident	2002-2006	80-100 breeding pairs	A3
Brandt's Mountain-finch Leucosticte brandti	LC	resident	2002-2006	150-200 breeding pairs	A3

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

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification	livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Climate change and severe weather	storms and floods	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Climate change and severe weather	temperature extremes	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - unspecified species	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Residential and commercial development	tourism and recreation areas	likely in short term (within 4 years)	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 management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity	medium

For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

Protected area (PA)	PA designation	PA area (ha)	Relationship of PA with IBA	Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
Таджикский Национальный парк	Национальный парк	260,000	protected area overlaps with site	95,000
Tajik National Park (Mountains of the Pamirs)	World Heritage Site (natural or mixed)	26,117	protected area contains site	144,054
Karakul Lake	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	36,400	protected area contained by site	36,400

Habitat (IUCN level 1)	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Grassland		-
Desert		-
Wetlands (inland)		-
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks)		-

For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
agriculture	-
nature conservation and research	-
tourism/recreation	-

---

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Karakul lake and mountains. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/karakul-lake-and-mountains-iba-tajikistan on 26/09/2023.