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Site description (2005 baseline):

The IBA encompasses the coastal strip up to 3 km wide and 85 km long and covers the following sites: between Capes Garasengir and Guvly (1,015 hectares); Guvlymayak lagoons (390 hectares); between Capes Kianly and Aksengir (408 hectares); and Aksengir to Tarta (234 hectares). The site as a whole is low lying with small depressions and bays. The coast is basically sand dunes, 50 to 100 m wide, forming large barkhan ranges with, in depressions, small solonchaks and seawater seepage forming areas of flooding separated from the coast, for example at Guvlymayak.

The avifauna includes not less than 280 species, of which 240 (86%) are passage-wintering birds, including 120 (43%) waterbirds, representing 46 and 23% of the total avifauna of Central Asia respectively. Passeriformes are the most diverse (96 species), followed by Haematopodidae (45), Anseriformes (28), Falconiformes (27) and Laridae (16). The most typical species on migration are coots and ducks (Netta rufina, Aythya ferina, Anas platyrhynchos, Aythya fuligula, Aythya marila, Anas penelope, etc.), plus waders, gulls and terns. The IBA is located on a major migratory flyway along the east coast of the Caspian. In spring there is a high turnover rate of migrants, with migration beginning in the middle of March and continuing to the end of April. The autumn migration shows several peaks and is prolonged lasting from the end of August to the beginning and middle of November. The following species listed in the Red Data Book of Turkmenistan (1999) have been recorded: Platalea leucorodia, Phoenicopterus roseus, Anthropoides virgo, Buteo buteo, Pandion haliaetus, Haliaeetus leucoryphus, Falco peregrinus, Circaetus gallicus, Burhinus oedicnemus, plus the non-migratory - Aquila chrysaetos, Falco cherrug and Bubo bubo. The globally threatened Vanellus gregarius and Aquila heliaca have also been recorded.

Non-bird biodiversity: Fauna includes 40 species of mammals, half from which are rodents (21 species), the others are predators (8), chiropterans (5), insectivores (4), ungulates (2). Reptiles are represented by 30 species, the most significant are the snakes Natrix natrix and Natrix tessellata and the Central Asian agama (Agama sanguinolenta). The flora includes more than 370 species of higher plants. The vegetation of the coast is represented by halophytic and salsolas communities. Sandy areas though are fixed by vegetation, but it is sparse: ephedra, a few species of Calligonum, Salsola richteri, and saxaul (Haloxylon persicum) which is very rare. Carex physodes also occurs sparsely together with a variety of ephemerals.

At present, the ecosystem of the IBA is considered to be in a safe condition. The greatest threats are pollution of coast with domestic waste, illegal hunting and illegal overfishing. Pollution may increase following completion of the Kianly bulk oil terminal. There is a small influence on the site from the development salt extraction from the seaside lagoon at Guvlymayak. The IBA is in a border zone and therefore is exposed to a small amount of military-economic pollution (dumping of rubbish, etc.).

During the second half of the last century intensive ornithological work was carried out by employees of the Khazar reserve. In spite this the IBA has still not been designated and is not listed in the protected areas of Turkmenistan. Counts of passage-wintering waterfowl were carried out almost annually from 1971-2005 under the direction of Vasilev V.I. On adjoining areas of desert employees of the Turkmenbashy antiplague stations carried out regular (especially from 1960-1990) studies of the distribution and number of mammals of region, particularly rodents and predators.

Not protected.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Garshy - Tarta (Turkmenistan). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/garshy--tarta-iba-turkmenistan on 19/12/2024.