Sarsembenova Orynzhamal Zhunusbekovna

Semipalatinsk state university named after Shakarim, Kazakhstan

THE GLOBALLY SIGNIFICANT WETLANDS OF KAZAKHSTAN ALAKOL-SASYKKOL LAKES SYSTEM

In the utmost East of Kazakhstan, where one of the main sites of the Central Asian-Indian flyway runs, located the largest wetland in the republic - Alakol-Sasykkol Lakes System.

Within GEF/UNDP project on integrated conservation of priority globally significant wetland habitat the hydrological, geobotanical, floristic and faunistic full-scale research have been carried out in 2004-2005. The feature is its complex character, participation n the research of the best experts from the academic and design Institutes of Kazakhstan, application of modern devices, equipment and techniques, including remote sounding and GIS-technologies. As a result of the research the objective assessment of water and land conditions of the natural reserve has been prepared, types of aquatic and inland ecosystems and their plant and animal forms are described, the borders, the character and the status of their habitat are identified, the basic threats to biodiversity are found out. The research of similar character and scale in Kazakhstan has been carried out for the first time. The paramount attention has been paid to rare, endemic and unique species, the majority of which included into the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan and the List of globally threatened species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN.

The research results are shown that Alakol-Sasykkol lakes system is a complete nature complex of aquatic and inland habitats for various plant and animal forms, including rare, endemic and unique species. The results of the research have confirmed the global importance of these wetlands in conservation of biodiversity, its conformity to the criteria 1 and 2 of "A" group of the Ramsar Convention. It has been identified, that 58 types of ecosystems are inhabited by more than 700 species of vascular plants, about 1500 water and terrestrial invertebrates, more than 20 species and subspecies of fish, 24 species of reptiles and 2 - amphibians, 342 species of birds and 56 species of mammals. There are about 100 species of rare, specially protected or endemic plants and animals among them. The carried out research allowed outlining the borders of the basic types of aquatic and inland ecosystems as well as habitats of the major representatives of fauna and flora With the use of GIS-technologies, on the basis of space pictures of the wetlands series of the thematic maps, objectively reflecting the borders of ecosystems and distribution of key species of animals and plants have been developed.

An assessment of the condition of plant and animal objects applied the notion of a "key" and "indicator" species. Species of global significance for conservation of populations and ecosystems are referred to key species, the protection and sustainable use of which automatically promote conservation of other species and biocenoses as a whole. Key value for wetlands has both rare and endemic species and background - numerous species. Some species of plants and animals adequately react to change of the conditions of the habitat, which influence their number, status, reproductive opportunities, etc. These kinds are referred to indicator species. The control over condition of indicator species and assessment of the habitat are a basis of long-term monitoring of wetland environment and biodiversity. This will provide for effective PA management and protection activities.

The comprehensive analysis of the data received during the research, has shown the objective necessity of change of the borders of the Alakol Reserve. It was found out that habitats of some valuable species of flora and fauna are located outside of the borders of the reserve, including the sites under intensive human activity. It should raise alarm, especially if to consider rapid economic development of the given territory over the last years, the first turn of oil pipeline Kazakhstan - the Peoples Republic of China laid on this area, and blooming industry of recreation activity covering significant area of the coast of the Alakol Lake. In view of all these factors it is offered to considerably expand existing borders of Alakol Reserve and to include the significant ecosystems and most valuable habitats of flora and fauna. As a result the representativeness of the reserve zone will gradually increase and unique landscapes with characteristic flora and fauna will be preserved for the future generations.

The role of wetlands in the natural processes and in human community s life is gread and varied. Wetlands exercise a number of significant environmental functions in the nature as they:

- regulate surface and ground water runoff;

- maintain the underground water table;

- collect and store fresh water;

- seize from the air and collect carbon;

- clean water and suppress pollutants;

- stabilize climatic conditions, especially precipitations and temperature and return oxygen to the air;

- suppress erosion and stabilize banks;

- support biodiversity and serve as habitat for various plant and animal species, including rare and economically significant speciens;

- maintain maximum bioloqical productivity of marine ecosistems.

In social life wetlands exercise various social and economic functions, which extensively are subject to their environmental features, particularly they:

- serve as major sources of fresh and technically clean water;

- affect capability of agricultural land as they maintain the underground water table;

- serve as a basis for development of irrigated cropping;

- serve as food resources and favourable environment for some types of stock raising (poultry husbanday, fur farming and haymaking) ;

- provide households and farms with fuel, conctruction materials and fertilizers (wood, reed and peat);

- serve as a source for various types of cropping (fishing, hunting and berry harvesting);

- provide large opportunities for tourism and use for recreation and balneological purposes;

- serve as essential environment for rural people following conventional livelihood patterns.

The list of references

1.The globally significant wetlands of Kazakhstan Alakol-Sasykkol lakes system. Astana, 2007. – 271 pages.

2.Informtion Bulletin «Integrated Conservation of Globally significant Migratory Bird Wetlands Habitat», №6, 2006.