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Site description (2007 baseline):

The Aktash massif IBA is situated in nothern Tajikistan on the southern mountainside of the Kuraminskiy ridge on the border with the Republic of Uzbekistan, which forms the western, northern and eastern borders of the IBA. The site is located at the head of the Aktash and Ashtsay rivers (tributaries of the Syrdarya river). Many streams, starting as springs, and snowfields located on the southern mountainside of the Kuraminskiy ridge inflow in these rivers.

The avifauna includes 162 species. There are 38 resident species including Gypaetus barbatus, Aegypius monachus, Aquila chrysaetos, Falco cherrug, Falco pelegrinoides, Tetraogallus himalayensis, Alectoris chukar, Columba livia, Streptopelia decaocto, Streptopelia senegalensis, Bubo bubo, Alcedo atthis, Dendrocopos leucopterus, Galerida cristata, Cinclus cinclus, Parus bokharensis, Sitta tephronota, Tichodroma muraria, Pyrrhocorax graculus, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, Corvus corax, Acridotheres tristis, Passer montanus, Carduelis caniceps and Mycerobas carnipes. The most numerous nesting species include Milvus migrans, Neophron percnopterus, Circaetus gallicus, Buteo rufinus, Hieraaetus pennatus, Falco subbuteo, Falco peregrinus, Coturnix coturnix, Burhinus oedicnemus, Charadrius dubius, Columba palumbus, Streptopelia turtur, Streptopelia orientalis, Cuculus canorus, Athene noctua, Apus melba, Coracias garrulus, Upupa epops, Jynx torquilla, Calandrella acutirostris, Alauda arvensis, Eremophila alpestris, Riparia rupestris, Hirundo rustica, Delichon urbica, Anthus campestris, Anthus spinoletta, Motacilla cinerea, Motacilla alba, Motacilla personata, Prunella fulvescens, Prunella atrogularis, Prunella collaris, Luscinia megarhynchos, Luscinia svecica, Phoenicurus caeruleocephalus, Phoenicurus ochruros, Phoenicurus erythrogaster, Chaimarrornis leucocephala, Saxicola torquata, Oenanthe isabellina, Oenanthe pleschanka, Monticola saxatilis, Monticola solitarius, Acrocephalus arundinaceus, Hippolais rama, Hippolais pallida, Sylvia hortensis, Sylvia curruca, Sylvia communus, Sylvia althaea, Phylloscopus trochiloides, Phylloscopus humei, Tersiphone paradisi, Muscicapa striata, Certhia himalayana, Remiz coronatus, Oriolus oriolus, Lanius phoenicuroides, Lanius schach, Lanius minor, Corvus corax, Sturnus roseus, Passer domesticus, Passer hispaniolensis, Petronia petronia, Serinus pusillus, Carduelis chloris, Carduelis flavirostris, Leucosticte nemoricola, Rhodopechys sanguinea, Carpodacus erythrinus, Carpodacus rhodochlamys, Carpodacus grandis, Emberiza calandra and Emberiza stewarti. Migrants include Anas crecca, Anas platyrhynchos, Circus cyaneus, Aquila heliaca, Grus grus, Jynx torquilla, Lanius cristatus and Lanius excubitor. Wintering birds include Accipiter nisus, Falco vespertinus, Fulica atra, Tetrax tetrax, Vanellus indicus, Vanellus vanellus, Gallinago gallinago, Gallinago solitaria, Scolopax rusticola, Tringa totanus, Tringa ochropus, Regulus regulus, Corvus monedula, Fringilla coelebs and Fringilla montifringilla. Aegypius monachus, Circus macrourus, Aquila clanga, Aquila heliaca, Falco naumanni, Falco vespertinus, Falco cherrug and Coracias garrulus are globally threatened. Falco cherrug, Falco peregrinus, Chaimarrornis leucocephala and Tersiphone paradise are included in the Red Data Book of Tajikistan.

Non-bird biodiversity: Fish: Schizothorax intermedius (native) and Cyprinus carpio (acclimatized). Amphibia: Rana ridibunda, Bufo viridis. Reptilia: Testudo horsfieldi, Gymnodactylus russowi, Agama sanguinolenta, Phrynocephalus felioscopus, Ophisaurus apodus, Ablepharus alaicus, Erix tataricus, Natrix tessellata, Coluber karelini, Coluber rhodorhachis, Coluber ravergieri, Elaphe dione, Vipera lebetina and others. Mammals: Sus scrofa, Canis lupus, Vulpes vulpes, Citellus relictus, Hystrix leucura, Rattus turkestanicus, Ellobius tancrei. Marmota menzbierii inhabited the Aktashskiy Zakaznik in the 1990s but has now disappeared from Tajikistan. It is included in the Red Data Book of Tajikistan. Mountain forests formed by Juniperus zeravschanica and J. semiglobosa are located in the high mountain belt. Juniper forests consist largely of old trees. There is no regeneration due to overgrazing so the canopy is relatively open. In the mid-mountain belt Amygdalus bucharica, Amygdalus spinosissima, Rosa fedtschenkoana, Rosa maracandica, Rosa ecae, Rosa divina, Lonicera bracteolaris, Lonicera korolkowii, Lonicera nummulariifolia, Cotoneaster suavis, Cotoneaster nummularis, Cerasus verrucosa, Cerasus erythrocarpa and others grow. On the river floodplain Salix excelsa, Salix linearifolia, Populus tadshikistanica, Crataegus turkestanica and Crataegus fischeri can be found. The foothills are used for agriculture with orchards, vineyards, vegetable gardens and fields.

The environs of the Aktashskiy Zakaznik are used very intensively as pasture which has a negative influence on the state of the soil, vegetation and fauna.

Overgrazing has a negative influence on the state of the soil, vegetation and fauna. Part of the Aktashskiy zakaznik is tenanted by farmers for growing agricultural plants which is violation of the protection laws. Therefore it is necessary to terminate all agreements relating to exploitation.

Creation of the IBA and associated activities will promote the protection not only of the avifauna but also other groups of fauna and flora.

The Aktash Zakaznik is included in the IBA. This zakaznik was created for the conservation of Marmota menzbierii as it was the only place in Tajikistan where the species occurred. It has now disappeared from Tajikistan.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Aktash massif (Tajikistan). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/aktash-massif-iba-tajikistan on 22/11/2024.