Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2006 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca | VU | breeding (2003–2006) | 17 breeding pairs | A1 |
| Saker Falcon Falco cherrug | EN | breeding (2003–2006) | 120 breeding pairs | A1, A4ii |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2006. The most recent assessment (2014) is shown below.
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2014 | favourable | high | medium |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | habitat | good | |
| State (condition of the key species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba | 3 / 1 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe | 2 / 1 (individuals) | 100 | favourable | ||
| State (condition of the key species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Artificial/Terrestrial | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | favourable |
| Desert | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | favourable |
| Forest | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | favourable |
| Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | favourable |
| Shrubland | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | favourable |
| Wetlands (inland) | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | favourable |
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Climate change and severe weather | happening now | whole population/area (>90%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Residential and commercial development | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | no deterioration (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Transportation and service corridors | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | low |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | no deterioration (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Some limited conservation initiatives are in place | medium |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | 70 | Desert & semi-desert - clay; Desert & semi-desert - salty; Desert & semi-desert - stony; Desert & semi-desert - sandy |
| Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 20 | Inland cliffs |
| Shrubland | 10 | Scrub; Low bushes |
| Artificial/Terrestrial | minor (<10) | Other urban & industrial areas |
| Forest | minor (<10) | Wooded desert & semi-desert |
| Wetlands (inland) | minor (<10) | Rivers & streams; Standing brackish & salt water; Temporary water bodies; Water-fringe vegetation |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| not utilised | major (>10) |
| energy production and mining | minor (<10) |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: North-western cliff faces of the Ustyurt Plateau (Kazakhstan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/north-western-cliff-faces-of-the-ustyurt-plateau-iba-kazakhstan on 25/01/2025.