Current view: Text account
Site description (2007 baseline):
Site location and context
In the 1980s, the waters of the Amudarya began to flood into the southeastern part of the Kelif Uzboy (Uzynshor depression) and construction of the Zeyit water reservoir began. The IBA is located to the west of the city of Atamyrat.
The avifauna of the IBA includes 300 species of which more than 100 are waterfowl and waterbirds.
The IBA is a typical wetland providing favourable conditions for waterfowl and waterbirds, especially during migration and in winter.
Criterion А1 applies for: Pelecanus crispus, Aythya nyroca and Oxyura leucocephala. One additional A1 species has been recorded which does not meet the qualifying level - Marmaronetta angustirostris.
Criterion А4iii applies as waterfowl and waterbird numbers on migration and in winter reach more than 20,000 individuals.
Non-bird biodiversity: Fish: – about 40 species, amphibians – 2 species, reptiles – 30 species, and mammals – more 30 species.
Flora: – hydrophilic vegetation: Tamarix, Karelinia caspia, Phragmites australis, Salsola. A few species of saxaul (Haloxylon).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Disturbance of birds and overfishing.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Winter counts of waterfowl have been carried out in various years.
Not protected.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Zeyit - Kelif (Turkmenistan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/zeyit--kelif-iba-turkmenistan on 23/12/2024.
