TJ012
Karakul lake and mountains


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
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
Charadrius mongolus NR 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 (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)
2006 not assessed high medium
Was the whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes unset medium

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

IBA Protection

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

Habitats

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

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


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Karakul lake and mountains. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/karakul-lake-and-mountains-iba-tajikistan on 19/03/2024.