The site consists of sand desert with an irrigation canal system and saxaul forests. People seldom visit this area because of its proximity to the state border. As a result, the saxaul forest is not subject to much felling. An abundance of water enables it to produce a good harvest of fruits. These conditions attract Passer simplex to the Khodja-Davlet sands area. There is a complex of desert and semidesert biome species in the saxaul forest.
Key biodiversity
36 species were recorded during two seasons' fieldwork in May 2004 and June 2007. Nine were biome species, 9 commercial and game species and the others.
Species recorded included Ardea purpurea, Phalacrocorax pygmaeus (UzRDB), Accipiter badius, Circus aeruginosus, Himantopus himantopus, Actitis hypoleucos, Charadrius dubius, Tringa ochropus, Sterna nilotica, Sterna hirundo, Columba livia, Streptopelia turtur, Pterocles orientalis, Caprimulgus aegyptius, Merops persicus, Upupa epops, Apus apus, Galerida cristata, Calandrella rufescens, Hirundo rustica, Riparia diluta, Cercotrichas galactotes, Hippolais languida, Sylvia nana, Sylvia mystacea, Scotocerca inquieta, Acrocephalus stentoreus, Parus bokharensis, Passer simplex, Passer indicus, Pica pica, Corvus monedula, Emberiza bruniceps and Emberiza rustica.
Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: Gazella subgutturosa (UzRDB, RL) is found very rarely and Cricetulus migratorius (RL).
Reptiles: Testudo horsfieldi (RL)
Habitat and land use
The desert area is used by local people as grazing for small cattle.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
There are no serious threats to the site. There is a moderate intensity cattle grazing which does not appear to influence the habitats or species.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
In the 1970-80s the Khodja-Davlet area was used as a field practice site for students of the biological faculty of Bukhara national university.
