Data Zone
Country/territory: Mongolia
IBA criteria met: A1, A3, A4i (2009)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 25,000 ha
Site description (2007 baseline)
The site, which is located 30 km west of Tsagaan Ovoo soum centre, includes several steppe lakes, such as Gun Tsengeleg, Gun Galuut and Erveekhei. Gun Galuut Lake is the largest and has some reed and tall grassy vegetation on its northern shores. Other lake
shores are barren with sandy or fine gravel bars. The surrounding area is characterised
by steppe with short grass. Only four to six households inhabit the site year round. The
main land use is livestock grazing. Livestock numbers around the lakes are increasing, and
this is resulting in overgrazing and land degradation. In recent years, the water level of the lakes has dropped due to drought and a warmer climate.
Key biodiversity
The following Globally Threatened species occur at the site: Swan Goose Anser cygnoides (EN); Whitenaped Crane Grus vipio (VU); and Great Bustard Otis tarda (VU). The site supports an assemblage of species restricted to the Eurasian steppe and desert biome. The
site also supports at least 1% of the flyway populations of Swan Goose Anser cygnoides, Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea, Common Shelduck T. tadorna, Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo and Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
Non-bird biodiversity: The site is not known to be important for other fauna and flora.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Tsengeleg Lakes (Mongolia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/tsengeleg-lakes-iba-mongolia on 22/11/2024.