Country/territory: China (mainland)
IBA Criteria met: A1, A3 (2009)
For more information about IBA criteria please click here
Area: 54,000 ha
Site description
Located on the upper Ili River in the central part of the Tian Shan mountains, 280 km south south-east of Yining City and 250 km south south-west of Urumqi. The Kunes River flows through the IBA, which is relatively moist with an annual rainfall of 751.4-955.6 mm. The IBA is a breeding and staging area for birds.
Key biodiversity
Non-bird biodiversity: Nationally protected animals include Panthra uncia, Ursus arctos, Vulpes vulpes, Ovis ammon, Cervus elaphus and Sus scrofa.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2022) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Kunes forest. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 02/07/2022.