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close| Location | Turkmenistan, Mary |
| Central coordinates | 61o 19.29' East 37o 10.20' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A4i, A4iii |
| Area | 39,032 ha |
| Altitude | 150 - 210m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2007 |
Ornithological information The avifauna of the IBA includes 300 species of which more than 100 are waterfowl and waterbirds. The IBA consists of wetlands in the desert and provides favourable conditions for waterfowl and waterbirds, especially during migration and in winter. Criterion А1 applies for Pelecanus crispus. Several other A1 species have been recorded but current information does not currently justify them being proposed: Aythya nyroca, Oxyura leucocephala, Anser erythropus, Marmaronetta angustirostris. Criterion А4iii applies for the concentrations of waterfowl and waterbirds which number more than 20,000 on migration and in winter.
Site description The Khankhovuz water reservoir was constructed between 1962 and 1966. It is one of the main bulk water reservoirs in the Garagumdarya zone. The IBA is located 65 km to the southeast of Tedjen city and southwest of Mary city.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Pochard Aythya ferina | winter | 2007 | 5,006 individuals | medium | Least Concern | |
| Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus | winter | 2007 | 33 individuals | medium | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus | winter | 2007 | 4,008 individuals | medium | A4i | Least Concern |
| Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo | winter | 2007 | 1,700 individuals | medium | A4i | Least Concern |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | winter | 2007 | present [units unknown] | - | A4iii |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | 5% | |
| Wetlands (inland) | 95% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| fisheries/aquaculture | 70% |
| hunting | 10% |
| tourism/recreation | 5% |
| water management | 15% |
Other biodiversity Fish: – about 20 species, amphibians – 2 species, reptiles – 25 species, and mammals – about 30 species. Flora: – coastal hydrophilic vegetation: Karelinia caspia, Phragmites australis, Salsola, Calligonum L., Haloxylon persicum, H.aphyllum.
Management considerations Agricultural expansion, intensification, illegal hunting and overfishing.
Protection status Not protected.
Conservation response From 1970 onwards there were occasional counts of wintering waterfowl (see key references).
References Rustamov, E.A. (1992). Wintering of a waterfowl in Turkmenistan. Biology Science.№3. Moscow. (in Russian). Rustamov, E.A., Poslavskiy, A.N. (1990). Geography, ecology and protection of wintering of waterfowl in Turkmenistan. Nature protection in Turkmenistan. Ashgabat. p. 56-100. (in Russian).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Khankhovuz. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013
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