Data Zone
Country/territory: Uzbekistan
IBA criteria met: A1, A4, B3b (2019)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 85,989 hectares (859.89 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2019 | good | very high | very low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2006 baseline)
The site is situated 45 km southwest of the town of Karshi, on the border of reclaimed land and the desert. The length of reservoir is 14 km; average width, 5.5 km (widest point 7 km); average depth is 20.0 m (deepest point 40 m). The reservoir is fed by water from the Amudarya river through the main Karshi canal. Water quality depends on that of the Amudarya river. Water salinity is constant in the region of 0.7-0.8 g/l. The reservoir does not freeze and has limited vegetation cover. The gently sloping shores are covered with sparse arid vegetation impoverished as a result of overgrazing by cattle. Thickets of tamarisk occur in some places.
Key biodiversity
Observations carried out in the vicinity of the reservoir (steppe sites) in the last few years have revealed Chlamidotis undulata on migration and it is possible that the species also breeds.
The breeding bird community of the reservoir is poor, which is connected with the instability of the hydrological regime. In winter, the situation significantly changes. In the course of two years of winter counts, 23 species of waterfowl were recorded wintering on the reservoir, including the globally endangered Aythya nyroca. Two national Red Data Book species were also recorded - Haliaeetus albicilla and Larus ichthyaetus. The number of water birds concentrated here in winter corresponds to Ramsar and IBA criteria as a site of international importance. In January 2000 and 2004, the number of waterbirds recorded were 66,698 and 57,022 respectively.
Non-bird biodiversity: The following species inhabiting desert and semi-desert areas were recorded: rodents by gerbils and Long-clawed Ground Squirrel; Muskrat inhabits areas bordering canals and collector water courses; predators by Vulpes vulpes karagan, Golden Jackal and Steppe Cat; and reptiles by Steppe Agama. Fish in the reservoir include sazan and, cat-fish. Tree-shrub vegetation in the coastal zone has almost been lost to agricultural development, collection of firewood by local residents and overgrazing by cattle. Small areas of sparse thickets of tamarisk, saltwort and Artemisia sp. can be found and Koreleniya grows in the damp depressions.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Talimardzhan Reservoir (Uzbekistan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/talimardzhan-reservoir-iba-uzbekistan on 26/12/2024.