KZ025
Sorbalyk-Maybalyk Lake System


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important in 2007 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
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus LC passage 2005 195-1,011 individuals A4i
Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis VU passage 2005 732-1,662 individuals A1, A4i
Greylag Goose Anser anser LC passage 2007 2,560-6,430 individuals A4i
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons LC passage 2005 2,400-8,050 individuals A4i
Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus VU passage 2005 < 50 individuals A1
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula LC passage 2005 1,270-2,820 individuals A4i
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a passage 2007 13,200-27,600 individuals A4iii

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2007).


IBA Conservation

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2015 very unfavourable high not assessed
Was the whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes population medium

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Scientific name Common name Reference population Actual population Units % of population remaining Result
Cygnus cygnus Whooper Swan 1010 3 individuals 1 very unfavourable
Bucephala clangula Common Goldeneye 2820 650 individuals 24 very unfavourable
Aythya fuligula Tufted Duck 1900 112 individuals 6 very unfavourable
Spatula querquedula Garganey 78 78 individuals 100 favourable
Mareca strepera Gadwall 2430 41 individuals 2 very unfavourable
Species group - waterbirds A4iii 27600 1135 individuals 5 very unfavourable

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat Habitat detail Reference area (ha) Actual area (ha) Habitat quantity (% remaining) Habitat quality (carrying capacity) Result
Artificial/Terrestrial Other urban & industrial areas 0 0 poor (40-69%) poor (40-69%) very unfavourable
Artificial/Terrestrial Ruderal land 0 0 poor (40-69%) poor (40-69%) very unfavourable
Forest Wooded steppe 50 50 - poor (40-69%) unfavourable
Grassland Humid 200 200 - very poor (< 40%) very unfavourable
Grassland Steppes & dry calcareous 300 200 - poor (40-69%) very unfavourable
Wetlands (inland) Standing fresh water 400 300 - moderate (70-90%) unfavourable

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 some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
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%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Biological resource use fishing & harvesting aquatic resources - unintentional effects: large scale happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Biological resource use hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - intentional use (species being assessed is the target) happening now some of area/population (10-49%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Climate change and severe weather drought happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Human intrusions and disturbance recreational activities happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Pollution agricultural & forestry effluents - type unknown/unrecorded happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) slow but significant deterioration high
Pollution domestic & urban waste water - type unknown/unrecorded happening now some of area/population (10-49%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Pollution excess energy - noise pollution happening now some of area/population (10-49%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Pollution garbage & solid waste happening now some of area/population (10-49%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Residential and commercial development housing and urban areas happening now some of area/population (10-49%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Transportation and service corridors roads and railroads 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
Not assessed Not assessed Not assessed not assessed
For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

Habitats

Habitat (IUCN level 1) Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Wooded steppe -
Grassland Humid, Steppes & dry calcareous -
Wetlands (inland) Standing fresh water -
Artificial/Terrestrial Arable land, Other urban & industrial areas, Ruderal land -
For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
rangeland/pastureland -
fisheries/aquaculture -
hunting -
urban/industrial/transport -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sorbalyk-Maybalyk Lake System. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sorbalyk-maybalyk-lake-system-iba-kazakhstan on 04/10/2023.