Data Zone
Country/territory: Kazakhstan
IBA criteria met: A1, A3 (2007)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 364,580 ha
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2017 | near favourable | low | medium |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2007 baseline)
The IBA covers a major portion of the hilly uplands 55 km to the south-east of Astana. The main part of the area is situated on the outskirts of the south-eastern quarter of Akmola region with the southern extension, running mainly north-south, extending to the northern frontier zone of Karaganda region. The district centre of Ereymentau is located on the northern edge of the site and there are several settlements, including Algabas, Baimen and Ornek Novokamena, within the IBA.
The hilly uplands consist of a system of parallel ranges stretching in a east-west direction. Towards the eastern end of the area the landscape is predominately rocky with sparse forest cover. There are also areas of dry steppe. A few rivers run down from the mountains and support patches of alder forest (Alnus sp) in boggy areas. The lower slopes have scattered stands of coppiced deciduous forest - birch-aspen assemblage, with birch tending to be dominant.
Key biodiversity
Being a combination of forest and steppe, the site supports an interesting mix of species. Ereymentau forest is the southern boundary of northern breeding species such as Buteo buteo, Pernis apivorus, Accipiter gentilis and Strix uralensis, and the northernmost location for breeding Aquila nipalensis. The area is also important for raptors including Aquila heliaca, Aquila chrysaetos, Circus macrourus, Falco vespertinus and Otus scops.
Non-bird biodiversity: A good population of Ovis ammon collium inhabits the Ereymentau hill ranges. Marmota bobak are numerous in the vicinities of both the State Nature Preserve and the hunting facility “Gornoye”.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ereymentau Mountains (Kazakhstan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ereymentau-mountains-iba-kazakhstan on 23/11/2024.