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CN122
Aksu River basin
Location China (mainland), Xinjiang
Central coordinates 80o 54.00' East  40o 16.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A2, A3, A4i, A4iii
Area 290,000 ha
Altitude 1,000 - 1,050m
Year of IBA assessment 2009





Site description Located 70 km east south-east of Aksu City and 700 km south-west of Urumqi. The IBA has rich water resources, including the Aksu and Tarim rivers and many reservoirs. However, rapid human population growth has depleted the water resources and affected the breeding and staging areas of birds.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Black Stork Ciconia nigra unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Great Egret Casmerodius albus unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo passage  2008  10,000 individuals  unknown  A4i  Least Concern 
Pallas's Fish-eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
Common Tern Sterna hirundo unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4i  Least Concern 
A4iii Species group - waterbirds unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A4iii   

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Desert   -
Shrubland   -
Wetlands (inland)   -

Other biodiversity There were historical records of Panthera tigris 1950s, but it is now locally extinct. Other animals include Vulpes vulpes, Camelus bactrianus and Cervus elaphus. There area also supports the fish Pelochelys bibroni.

Conservation response Unprotected

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Aksu River basin. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife