KZ038
Zharsor-Urkash Salt Lakes


IBA Justification

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2008 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:
Species Red List Season (year/s of estimate) Size IBA criteria
Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis VU passage (1998–2003) 250-999 birds A1, A4i
Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus VU passage (1998–2003) < 50 birds A1
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna LC passage (2002–2006) 1,300–1,500 birds A4i
Siberian Crane Leucogeranus leucogeranus CR winter (1998–2003) 1 birds A1
Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo LC passage (1998–2003) 2,800–8,000 birds A4i
Common Crane Grus grus LC passage (1998–2003) 4,200–12,000 birds A4i
Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax NT breeding (1998–2000) < 50 pairs A1, A3
Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius CR breeding (1998–2003) < 50 birds A1, A3
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca VU non-breeding (1998–2003) frequent A1
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus NT breeding (1998–2003) 15 pairs A1, A3
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a passage (1998–2003) 20,000–50,000 birds A4iii

IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2008. The most recent assessment (2004) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2004 very poor high not assessed
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
no habitat medium

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat Quantity (% remaining) Quality (% carrying capacity) Result
Introduced vegetation moderate (70–90%) poor (40–69%) very poor
Artificial/Terrestrial good (>90%) poor (40–69%) poor
Grassland moderate (70–90%) moderate (70–90%) poor
Wetlands (inland) good (>90%) moderate (70–90%) moderate
Shrubland good (>90%) good (>90%) good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Natural system modifications happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Climate change and severe weather happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Agricultural expansion and intensification happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Not assessed Not assessed Not assessed not assessed

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
2008 Zharsor-Urkash State Nature Sanctuary (-) 83

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Grassland 75 Humid; Steppes & dry calcareous
Wetlands (inland) 20 Standing brackish & salt water; Fens, transition mires & springs; Standing fresh water; Water-fringe vegetation
Shrubland 5 Low bushes
Artificial/Terrestrial - Arable land
Introduced vegetation -

Land use

Land use % of IBA
agriculture 10


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Zharsor-Urkash Salt Lakes (Kazakhstan). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/zharsor-urkash-salt-lakes-iba-kazakhstan on 25/12/2024.