Current view: Text account
Site description (2007 baseline):
Site location and context
The site lies in the south-eastern part of the moderately expansive Kokshetau uplands. The eastern edge of the area runs parallel to the south-north oriented road network and Astana-Petropavlovsk railway line. The district centre of Akkol (Alekseyevka) is located roughly midway along the border. A system of secondary and country roads crosses the site linking the many villages, the largest of which are Phylipovka, Vinogradovka, Krasny Bor, Amangeldy and Ornek. On the northern boundary is the medium-sized settlement of Nikolskoye.
The boundary of the site encompasses an area occupied by large stands of mature pine forest in the vicinity of Akkol (Alekseyevka). These impressive patches of pine mountainside are located on the sub-watershed of the upper reaches of the right-bank tributaries of the Koluton river. The major features of the landscape are those typical of the wilds of the Northern Kazakhstan forest-steppe zone - an assemblage of dry meadow herbage and Fescue-Feather-Grass vegetation between stands of coniferous forest and occasional groves of birch.
The composition of the avifauna is dominated by species associated with forest habitats plus some steppe species.
All forest stands are assigned to the local forestry facility. Part of the open area between the forests is allotted for grazing.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The forestry facility regards the pines as the major asset and carries out an annual programme of small-scale logging. The effects of this forest resource management varies in severity from negligible through mild to serious.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Alekseevskie steppe pine forests (Kazakhstan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/alekseevskie-steppe-pine-forests-iba-kazakhstan on 25/12/2024.
