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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2011 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
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala	EN	breeding (2006–2010)	5–10 breeding pairs	A1
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala	EN	passage (2006–2010)	20–203 individuals	A1, A4i
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	breeding (2008)	300–1,200 individuals	A4i
Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius	CR	breeding (1997)	2 breeding pairs	A1
Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius	CR	non-breeding (1992)	15 individuals	A1, A4i
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	passage (2006–2009)	30,000 individuals	A4iii

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2011. The most recent assessment (2010) is shown below.

State (condition of the key species' populations)
Species	Actual vs Reference (units)	% remaining	Result
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala	10 / 9 (breeding pairs)	100	favourable
Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius	0 / 15 (individuals)	0	very unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Natural system modifications	happen­ing now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	rapid deteri­oration (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Transportation and service corridors	happen­ing now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	rapid deteri­oration (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Residential and commercial development	happen­ing now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate deteri­oration (10–30% in 3 gener­ations)	high
Biological resource use	happen­ing now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate deteri­oration (10–30% in 3 gener­ations)	high
Human intrusions and disturbance	happen­ing now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate deteri­oration (10–30% in 3 gener­ations)	high
Pollution	happen­ing now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Climate change and severe weather	likely in short term (within 4 years)	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate deteri­oration (10–30% in 3 gener­ations)	medium
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happen­ing now	few individ­uals/small area (<10%)	slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Little/none of site covered (<10%)	No manage­ment planning has taken place	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	very low

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Wetlands (inland)	68	Fens, transition mires & springs; Standing brackish & salt water; Standing fresh water
Artificial/Terrestrial	16	Arable land; Other urban & industrial areas; Perennial crops, orchards & groves
Grassland	15	Steppes & dry calcareous
Forest	1

Land use	% of IBA
hunting	70
fisheries/aquaculture	40
water management	10
urban/industrial/transport	10
not utilised	10
unknown	10
rangeland/pastureland	8
agriculture	5
nature conservation and research	4
tourism/recreation	2
forestry	1

state 70%, private 10%, other 20%

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Wetlands of Karasuk town (Russia (Central Asian)). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/wetlands-of-karasuk-town-iba-russia-(central-asian) on 24/01/2025.