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Site description (2006 baseline):
Site location and context
This site is situated 45 km to the SW of the district center Gagarin. It includes Arnasay water reservoir, adjusting lakes and part of the sandy desert. The length of the reservoir is about 70 km, width up to 7-12 km, average depth 5-7 m., and has a gently sloping shore. The shoreline is indented by long shore bays sometimes with thin strips of reed.
The isolated lakes are surrounded by tugay forest and have extensive cover of reeds (up to 60-70%). The lakes tend to freeze (December/January to March) but not every year.
Currently no comprehensive data on the ornithofauna of this area exists. The list of birds of the adjacent territory includes about 230 species.
Surveys carried out in spring 1998, summer 2004 and summer-autumn 2006 recorded 80 species. Of these, four are included on the IUCN Red List (Pelecanus crispus, Aythya nyroca, Aegypius monachus and Coracias garrulus) and 10 species are included on the national Red Data Book, namely, Pelecanus onocrotalus, Pelecanus crispus, Phalacrocorax рygmaeus, Plegadis falcinellus, Platalea leucorodia, Cygnus olor, Aythya nyroca, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila chrysaetos and Haliaeetus albicilla. A flock of Otis tarda (five individuals) was recorded by inspectors of the Aidar-Arnasai Basin Inspectorate in this area in 2004. Hunters noted that Branta ruficollis and Anser erythropus were among the species shot in a number of years.
Non-bird biodiversity: Animals are represented by typical species of the desert and waterside: gerbils, Long-clawed Ground Squirrel, jebroas, Fox (ssp. caragana), Corsac Fox, Steppe Cat, Wild Boar and Badger. An increase in the numbers of jackal and introduced muskrat has been noted in the last few years. Desert Monitor and Steppe tortoises, Phrynocephalus interscapularis and other lizards are common. Dice Snake, Marsh Frog and Green Toad are also recorded. Water bodies are inhabited by sazan, Pike-perch, Catfish, Roach, introduced Channa argus and Silver Carp.
The coasts and islets of Arnasay reservoir and adjoining lakes are covered with desert species such as Haloxylon persicum, Populus ariana, P. proinosa, Alhagi psendalhagi, Ammodendron argentum, Astragalus amarus and Ferula caspica, and tree-shrub plants and grasses. Phragmites communis and Typha angustifolia grow along the shoreline; Potomogeton lucens, P. pectinatus, Myriophyllum spicatum, Ceratophyllum demersum etc. grow in the water.
This is a water body with average salinity, rich food resources, open water areas, reedbeds and cattail for water birds. Almost the entire territory of the Arnasay reservoir is flat, but does rise to 200-300 m. in places. Most of the flat land is covered by the Kyzylkum sands. The sands are fixed with saxaul, sand acacia (Ammodendron connollyi) and herbs. The sandy desert adjoining in the southeast is in a state of degradation due to overgrazing and a prevalence of camel’s thorn.
The land situated directly next to the reservoir are only used as pasture for cattle. Throughout the year the lake is used for watering small cattle, and in autumn-winter it is used for hunting.
The lakes, as well as the reservoir, are heavily affected by the withdrawal of water for agriculture. It is also used for fisheries.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Uncontrolled fishing leads to the impoverishment of the food supplies of fish-eating birds. The use of fixed nets is dangerous for many species. The constant presence of boats and humans on the lake is a disturbance factor for birds. The degradation of the sandy desert results in the extent of habitat, while poaching represents a direct threat for birds.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
In 2004, an international winter count of water birds was conducted in this territory within the framework of the WWF-Russia and Wetlands International project “The development of a strategy on the protection of water birds and wetlands in the Central Asian migratory flyway”.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Arnasay Lake System (Uzbekistan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/arnasay-lake-system-iba-uzbekistan on 24/11/2024.
