Eastern Issyk Kul Lake


IBA Justification

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2010 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:
Species Red List Season (year/s of estimate) Size IBA criteria
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula LC winter (1976–1986) 400–1,000 birds A4i
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea LC breeding (1976–1986) 600–6,000 unknown A4i
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina LC winter (1976–1986) 2,000–4,000 birds A4i
Northern Pintail Anas acuta LC passage (1976–1986) 6,000–12,000 birds A4i
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis LC winter (1976–1986) 200–400 birds A4i
Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo LC passage (1976–1986) 2,000–6,000 birds A4i
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a passage (1976–1986) 9,000–22,000 birds A4iii
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a winter (1976–1986) 15,000–40,000 birds A4iii

IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2010. The most recent assessment (2006) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2006 not assessed medium low
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
no unset -

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Human intrusions and disturbance happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Agricultural expansion and intensification happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations) low
Biological resource use happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations) low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Some of area covered (10–49%) Unknown Some limited conservation initiatives are in place low

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
1948 Issyk-Kul State Nature Reserve (Ia) 56
2001 Issyk Kul UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve (UA) 100

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Wetlands (inland) 64 Raised bogs; Standing fresh water; Fens, transition mires & springs; Standing brackish & salt water
Grassland 24 Humid
Shrubland 8 Low bushes; Scrub
Artificial/Terrestrial 4 Arable land; Forestry plantations

Land use

Land use % of IBA
nature conservation and research 50
hunting 20
agriculture 10


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Eastern Issyk Kul Lake (Kyrgyzstan). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/eastern-issyk-kul-lake-iba-kyrgyzstan on 23/12/2024.