New ecological networks established in Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan? Where is that? Did you just make that up? No! Turkmenistan was an important part of the ancient silk route, famous for fierce warriors and proud tribes travelling as nomads on horseback across its deserts and mountains with the mighty Oxus River flowing beside them. That river is now better known as the Amu Darya, and once upon a time used to fill the Aral Sea...Soviet environmental disasters aside, Turkmenistan as a sovereign nation is doing some great and seldom heard of things for nature.

Located on major migration routes from European Russia, western Siberia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and – with its mild climate, unfrozen water bodies and the year-round availability of food – Turkmenistan is of major importance for migrating and overwintering species. The RSPB’s work is with the Government of Turkmenistan through the Ministry for Nature Protection with whom we have Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) enabling us to work closely with this major administrative body, responsible for the environmental policy of the country including the implementation of multilateral environmental conventions and establishing and maintaining networks of protected areas. The RSPB's support commenced in 2004 with the establishment of the Important Bird Areas (IBA) project establishing 50, mostly wetland, IBAs from the Caspian Sea to the east all the way to the Afghan border.

Since signing a new MoU in 2014, we are focusing our work on two sites: Badhyz and Koytendag State Nature Reserves helping the staff understand better their ecosystems and increasing capacity for their protection. Before I tell you about those sites in more detail, it is worth sharing the great news we heard on Christmas Day 2014. The RSPB and our local team are working to submit UNESCO Natural World Heritage nominations for both sites later this month. So it was momentous news from the highest political echelons of Turkmenistan when we were informed of the designation of a suite of new ecological networks. We have successfully lobbied and persuaded the powers that be in Turkmenistan to agree our proposed land use changes to extend the two important nature reserves thus creating an integrated system of various levels of protected area. Result!

The Badhyz State Nature Reserve was doubled in size; a wildlife sanctuary was increased, two buffer zones were added and two ecological corridors were established. Together these now protect a total area of 289,347 hectares. Similarly in Koytendag State Nature Reserve an 18,112 hectare buffer zone and a 10,000 hectare extension to the wildlife sanctuary were added to the site bringing the total area under protection to 115,335 hectares.

Badhyz is an outstanding example of a semi-arid predominantly grassland ecosystem maintained by globally important populations of ungulates and their attendant carnivore and scavenger communities, many of them globally threatened species and regional endemics. Of highest importance is the seasonally migratory community of grassland ungulates – Turkmen Kulan (the largest population of the subspecies kulan in the world) and Persian Goitered Gazelle - and their associated predators. The 9,000 hectares of natural pistachio woodland on the reserve is believed to be the largest area of this habitat in Central Asia, which is saying something, considering Central Asia is the genetic home of many of our commercial fruit and nut crops. The bird fauna totals 269 species including 30 residents, 66 breeding migrants, 146 non-breeding migrants, 21 wintering and 6 vagrants. Key species are Sociable Lapwing (CR), Saker Falcon and Egyptian Vulture (EN), Dalmatian Pelican, Pallas’s Fish-eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Great Bustard, Houbara Bustard (VU) and Lammergeier, Cinereous Vulture, Pallid Harrier, Little Bustard (NT).

As the result of being situated at the intersection of three biomes, Koytendag Reserve has an outstanding and important flora and fauna, with many species of national and international conservation importance and a high level of endemism. For example, there are 48 species of endemic plant, an endemic blind loach and at least 11 endemic invertebrates. Nine species are listed as Globally Threatened by IUCN and at least 37 species are included in the Red Data Book of Turkmenistan. A high number of plant species have an existing or potential economic value which could help support local incomes in the future if managed sustainably. This includes 41 species which are the wild relatives of several of today’s commercial crop and fruit species; 242 species with known medicinal properties and 41 species which can be used in landscape planting. There is also plateau of dinosaur footprints and fossils and an extensive system of karst caves and sinkholes, extending over 60 km in length and reaching depths of 310 m, which is considered to be the most important cave system in Northern Eurasia. The bird fauna totals 213 species of bird 50 resident species, 102 breeding migrants (including 28 wintering) and 56 migratory species (including 9 wintering) and 5 occasional migrants/vagrants. Key species are Saker Falcon, Egyptian Vulture (EN), Eastern Imperial Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle (VU) and Cinereous Vulture, Lammergeier, Pallid Harrier, European Roller (NT). There are also about 11 biome-restricted species there such as See-see Partridge and Eastern Rock Nuthatch.

Once we have submitted the UNESCO World Heritage dossiers we focus our efforts on ensuring the new extensions to the nature reserves are thoroughly understood and have the best management plans with the required skills within the staff to match the requirements. In terms of Koytendag this means a spring visit to explore the cave and sinkhole systems thoroughly, and at Badhyz it will focus on the ungulates and associated threats.

 If you would like to know more about this little-known country, do get in touch. Stephanie.ward@rspb.org.uk