KYRGYZ REPUBLIC
3. ISSYK-KUL BASIN
Specially protected nature areas, included in the nominated site:
Protected Area Area (hectares)
¹
Issyk-Kul Lake(buffer zone of the Issyl-Kul Biosphere Territory) Issyk-Kul SSNR (zapovednik)
Sarychat-Ertashsky SSNR (zapovednik) Karakol Nature Park
State Forest Reserve Malaya Ak-Suu
Teploklyuchen SSPR (sanctuary) (SSPR -sanctuary) Tyup SSPR (sanctuary)
Djeti-Oguz SSPR (sanctuary) Ken-Suu SSPR (sanctuary) Djargylchak SSPR (sanctuary)
Barskoon Waterfall Geologic SSPR (sanctuary) Djetu-Oguz Cliff Geologic SSPR (sanctuary)
Subalpine and alpine units of Terskei Ala-Too (core zone of the bios-phere territory "Issyk-Kul")
Total
1,457,145 19,842 72,080 38,256 95 32,140 19,085 31,300 8,712 23,098
40,500
1,742,253 1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
The nominated object is proposed as a mixed cultural and natural landscape. The natural component is represented by 12 specially pro-tected nature areas that are located in the Issyk-Kul Basin, and the Sarychat-Ertash Reserve, which joins it in the southeast.
broad spectrum of its diverse landscapes, namely, lake, desert, semi-desert, dry and moist steppe, mountain forest, alpine-mead-ow, and nival-glacial.
The Issyk-Kul Basin is a unique natural forma-tion. It is an enormous basin (22,000 km2), which is closed on all sides by tall mountain ranges (4,800 - 5,200 meters). In the center, is large non-freezing lake, Issyk-Kul Lake, the surface of which is located at an elevation of 1,608 meters above sea level. The high extent of the basin's isolation from direct intrusion of
air masses, and from adjacent territories, cre-ates conditions for the formation of a unique climactic system, which influences all the other components of the natural complex.
From west to east, the basin is elongated by 275 kilometers. Its width of 65 kilometers, as well as the amplitude of its height, which, in the basin, reaches 3,600 meters, determine a rich combination of various landscapes types, from desert in the western plain part, to alpine meadow and glacial-nival in the high moun-tains of the eastern Trans-Issyk-Kul.
Petrophyte-psammophyte communities in the western part, the typical boreal biocenoses in the forest-meadow-steppe belt, and Tian Shan spruce massifs are unique for the entire Central Asian Region.
Coastal and aquatic flora and fauna of Issyk-Kul Lake are particularly significant. The lake's water area serves as a resting place for migratory birds and a wintering area for 33 species of waterfowl. The lake is recognized as a wetland (a wintering area for waterfowl and near shore birds) of international significance and is included on the Ramsar List. Twenty-one fish species inhabit the lake, of which 7 are endemic. A significant particularity of the basin is its abundance of natural formations that have great recreational and medicinal-healing potential. More than 100 various min-eral waters springs, 7 healing mud pits, close to 500 kilometers of natural beaches, more than 30 picturesque canyons, and dozens of waterfalls are used only very limitedly.
Flora is represented by almost 1,500 vascular plant species that form more than 50 vegeta-tion communities. This significantly exceeds the same characteristic for other World Heritage objects, for example, "Western Caucasus" (967 species), the Eastern Sayan (540 species), the Urals (621 species), and Altai (297 species).
Fauna includes 54 mammal species, 267 bird species, 11 reptile species, 4 amphibian species, and 31 fish species. More than 30 invertebrate species and close to 10 vertebrate species are endemics and sub-endemics of the Tian Shan.
Criteria for inscribing the property on UNESCO's World Heritage List
N (iv) - The territory includes habitat that is most representative and important for the con-servation of plants and animals (1,500 vascu-lar plant species, 54 mammal species, 267 bird species, 11 reptile species, 4 amphibian species, 31 fish species, more than 500 inver-tebrates), including that of rare species, endemics, and sub-endemics of the Tian Shan (more than 30 invertebrate species and close to 10 vertebrate species).
Among plants of particular significance are:
chee grass (Stipa splendes), joint fir (Ephedra multiflora), edelweiss (Leontopodium lutens), monkshood (Aconitum sp.), Tian Shan spruce (Picea Shrenkiana), sea buckthorn (Hipporhae rhamnoides), barberry (Berberis sp.), and others.
The following fauna inhabit the basin: snow leopard (Uncia uncial), Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica), Tartarian roe (Capreolus pygargus), Tian Shan bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus), stone marten (Martes foina), black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix), golden eagle (Aquila chrysae -tus), Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis), griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), Saker falcon (Falco cherrug), Pallas's fish eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus), Appolo, and others.
The global significance of the territory has been recognized with the inclusion of the lake in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Significance. Thrifty-three species of water-fowl winter in the lake's water zone, including:
grebes (Podiceps cristatus, P. griseigena, P.
auritus, P. caspicus, and P. ruficollis); herons (Ardea cinerea and Egretta alba); swans such as the whooper swan (Cygnus Cygnus) and mute swan (Cygnus olor); geese (Anser anser and A. albifrons); pochards (Netta rufina, Aythia ferina, A.nyroca, and A.fuligula); ducks (Anas platirhinchos, A.strepera, A.acuta, A.querquedula, and A.formosa); and coots (Fulica atra); and others.
N (i)- The Issyk-Kul Basin is relatively young according to geological scales of formation.
The powerful tectonic forces, which
trans-formed the Neozoic peneplain that existed more than 30 million years ago into a moun-tainous land, are clearly visible here.
As with many inland water bodies in Central Asia, Issyk-Kul Lake experiences sharp fluctu-ations in the water level. Ancient lake terraces are located at heights more than 20-50 meters above the current shoreline. Historically, the lake's level was more than 10 meters below the current level. Approximately 10 cities dating back to the Middle Ages were located along the lake's shores; the cities were flooded as a result of transgression that took place in the eighteenth century. On the lake bottom, flooded canyons that were once formed on dry land, can be observed.
Historically, the lake drained through the Chu River/ When the draining was lost, the lakes and its waters became brackish. The small Kutemaldi Channel was long preserved at the site of the previous drainage area; traces of the channel can still be seen to this day.
N (ii)- The basin presents a unique example of the formation of extremely diverse, con-trasting biological communities that are in direct proximity to one another, alternating on a relatively limited territory in time and space.
It also offers a sense for the prolonged eco-logical and bioeco-logical process in evolution.
In the late Pliocene Epoch, when the lake val-ley began to form, it was completely forested, with a predominance of broadleaf forests. The presence among plants of representatives of American, American-Mediterranean-Asian, American-Eurasian, and Holarctic flora testi-fies to the richness of biodiversity of this peri-od. The drying and cooling of the climate led to a decrease in forestation and some impov-erishment of flora and fauna. Now, however, the basin is composed of all types of terrestri-al ecosystems: desert, steppe, meadow, shrubs, forests, and also cryophytic variants of grass communities in the high mountains.
Furthermore, relatively young lakes and coastal ecosystems, as well as river and swamp ecosystems, are presented here. The isolation of populations of aquatic organisms (particularly fish and mollusks) has led to the
formation of new endemic species, based upon which one can make judgments about the rates and conditions of species diversity.
Given the relative insularity of the greater ecosystem of the Issyk-Kul Basin, it can serve as a unique model of a terrestrial biosphere.
N (iii)- Presents a unique natural phenome-non and territory having exceptional esthetic significance.
Among all the world's high mountain lakes, which are located at elevations higher than 1,200 meters above sea level, Issyl-Kul Lake is the deepest. After Lake Titicaca in South America, it is also the second largest in water volume. Issyk-Kul Lake is the largest non-freezing lake in Central Asia.
An enormous non-freezing body of water (its volume is close to 1,738 km3) and mountains rising up into the sky create a very complex and contrasting combination of landscapes.
The basin is surrounded on all sides by moun-tains that vary in height up to 3 - 3.5 kilome-ters. It is a natural complex unique in its beau-ty. It includes: Issyk-Kul Lake with its splen-did sandy beaches; the majestic Djeti Oguz (Seven Bulls) Cliffs, fantastic in their form and their range in color; the mountain ranges of the "Skazka" (fairy-tale) urotchishche; the roaring Barskoon Waterfall; more than 100 mineral springs; and uniquely picturesque mountain gorges.
A Brief Description of the Site
The surface of Issyk-Kul Lake is located at an elevation of 1,608 meters above sea level. The lake is the second largest alpine lake in the world after Lake Titicaca. Mountain ridges surrounding the basin reach elevations of 5,200 meters above sea level. The main part of the basin is located between 1,608 - 2,500 meters above sea level. More than 80 small rivers that form on the slopes of the surrounding Kyungei and Teskei Ala-Tu Mountain Ranges flow into Issyk-Kul Lake, which has no outlets. The largest are the Djergalan and Tyup Rivers, which form in the wetter eastern parts of the basin. The lake's non-freezing water mass softens the continental nature of the climate.
Spring here is cool; summer is not hot; fall and winter are warm and are especially favorable for the development of farming and resort-recreational activities. The deficit of atmos-pheric moisture in the desert western part of the basin makes only irrigated farming possi-ble here. In the moist eastern part, dry farm-ing ("bogara") is possible. In the summer, the highest air temperature in the resort zone does not exceed 30-33° Ñ, while the maximum water temperature by the shore ranges from 22-26°Ñ.
The frequency and high speed of the local storm winds, "Ulan" and "Santash", which originate in the west and east, respectively, aerate the closed basin and create favorable conditions for the possible use of their energy, which is relevant, given the orientation on eco-logically safe technologies.
The primary forest- forming species in the basin is the Tian Shan spruce (Picea shrenkiana). The area of spruce forest com-prises 65,760 hectares, of which 38,800 hectares fall on area occupied by spruce.
Endemic plants are few, comprising almost 4%
of all flora, and are encountered primarily in the high mountains. Six species of upper flow-ering plants, which are listed in the Red Data Book of the Kyrgyz Republic are encountered in the basin: sweet flag (Acorus calamatus, Chesniela villosa, Tulipa kolpakovskiana, Sibiraea tianshanica), and elfwort (Inula heleni-um). Fauna of the Issyk-Kula Basin is charac-terized by high species diversity and non-uni-form distribution across various landscapes, which is caused by the high-altitude zonation of the alpine territory. The snow leopard and three species of birds are listed in the International Red Data Book. In the Red Data Book of Kyrgyzstan, 9 mammal species, 18 bird species, and 12 insect species are listed.
The territory, which is proposed for inclusion on the World Heritage list under the name
"Sary-Cheleksky Nature Complex," is located in the Aksy District of the Djalal-Abadskaya Province (oblast) in the Kyrgyzstan Republic.
The total area of Sary-Chelek SSNR (zapovednk) is comprised of 23,868 hectares.
Its buffer zone, the width of which averages about 2 kilometers, has an area of 18,080 hectares. The reserve's territory is divided into two forest areas: Arkit (12,125 hectares) and Sary-Chelek (11,743 hectares).
Statement of Significance
The most important and significant character-istics of Sary-Chelek SSNR (zapovednk) are:
- Rich biodiversity and the presence of endemic, relict, and rare flora and fauna species such as: silver fir; the Uzun-Akhmat wild grape (Exochorda aflatunia); Kyrgyz apple; Kauffman and Greg tulips; Korolkova sage; snow leopard; Turkestan lynx; brown bear; and stone marten. The territory presents a high diversity of biomes, ranging from warm-humid to arid.
- In the reserve, part of the largest walnut-bearing forest massifs in the world are pre-served in their natural state. The territory is regarded as a Frontier Asian genetic center, where the primary forms of nuts, fruits, and many other cultivated plants are presented. It was precisely from here, that Alexander the Great's warriors took walnut seeds.
- A unique combination of relict nut-bearing forests, broadleaf Tertiary forests of walnut (Juglans regia), dark coniferous forest of Tian Shan spruce (Picea schrenkiana), Semenov fir (Abies semenovi), and the endemic black earth soil, on which they grow.
- A unique alpine (1,876 meters above sea level) lake, Sary-Chelek Lake, which has a scree dam, a maximum depth of 234 meters, and a surface area of close to 5 km2.
Considering the uniqueness of the reserve's natural complexes, a UNESCO Commission included Sary-Chelek in the global network of biosphere reserves in 1979.
4. "SARY-CHELEK" NATURE COMPLEX
Criteria for inscribing the property on UNESCO's World Heritage List
N (iv) - On the nominated territory, all ecosystem types of the Western Tian Shan are preserved in their natural state. Typical and unique natural features of the Tian Shan high mountains come together, which presents a rich diversity of natural ecosystems.
Close to 30% of Kyrgyzstan's biodiversity is concentrated on the reserve's territory, which comprises 0.1% of the republic's territory.
Here, one finds: 1,788 species of higher plants (44% of the plant species of the Kyrgyz Republic); 1,000 grass species (73% of the grass species of the Western Tian Shan); 113 species of trees and shrubs; 30 species of plants listed in the Red Data Book of the Kyrgyz Republic; 345 species of mushrooms;
more than 2,460 animal species, of which 21 species are endemics and 29 species relicts of the Western Tian Shan.
Mammalian fauna includes 43 species, among which are the snow leopard and Turkmenistan lynx, which are listed in the International Red Data Book. Avifauna is comprised of 157 species, including the black stork, which is also under international protection. In total, almost 2,000 species of insects are registered.
Twenty-six of them are relicts and 10 of them are listed in the Red Data Book. The region's entemofauna is also rich in endemics. For instance, an analysis of the saw-fly family shows that of 36 total species, 14 are endemics; of 37 total species in the ant fami-ly, 8 are endemic; the mollusk family includes 11 endemics and 1 relict; and of 123 total spi-der species, 2 are relicts.
The largest massive of nut-bearing forests in the world is located on the reserve's territory.
Dense forests of nuts, fruits, and deciduous trees grow here; they form the world's last natural nut forests massifs. The broad range of conditions on diverse forest territories, as well as a long evolution, caused great polymor-phism, especially among nut, apple, pear, cherry, plum, hawthorn, and other species.
This vast genetic fund is exceptionally impor-tant for preserving agrobiodiversity on a global scale.
N (ii) - Processes of evolution and species diversity have great scientific significance, not only as an example of natural development, but also for the regeneration and conservation of similar Eurasian ecosystems.
The historic development of the Earth; diversi-ty; particularities of physiogeographic condi-tions; and a unique complex of ecological fac-tors formed unique species diversity, with rich representation of relicts (above all, from the Tertiary Period) and endemics (Abies Semenovii, Malus Niedzvechiana, Rynus Korshinshyi, Sorbus persica, Sorbus turkestani-ca, Vitus uzunachmatiturkestani-ca, Tulipa Greigii). The natural complex of Sary-Chelek SSNR (zapovednk) is interesting for scientific research as a refugium of ancient moisture-and warmth-loving plant moisture-and animal forms, as well as relict biogeocenoses.
N (iii)- The territory is an example of unique natural phenomenon, with exceptional esthetic significance.
The diverse mountainous relief, with the unique phenomena of natural nut-bearing forests, with rich colors of sub-alpine, tall-grass, and alpine meadows, has high land-scape value. The territory has a full selection of esthetically valuable individual landscape components: clean, alpine transparent lakes;
800-year-old walnut trees more than 2 meters in diameter; forests and meadows with beauti-ful forbs, alpine rivers, and much more.
Uniquely beautiful wild nature, which combines uniqueness, typicality, and representativeness for the high mountains of the Tian Shan are preserved in the reserve.
Brief Description of the territory
The reserve is located in a high mountain basin, which is protected by mountain ranges;
from the northwest, by the Chatkal; from the northeast, by the Atoinok; and from the south-west, by the Bozbu-Too. The largest forma-tion bordering the reserve's territory is the Chatkal Mountain Range. The range extends for 120 km from northwest to the southeast; a number of its peaks exceed 4,000 meters in height. The reserve's territory has several lakes that are widely known for their beauty:
Sary-Chelek Lake, Kyla-Kol Lake, Iri-Kol Lake, Aram-Kol Lake, Chelek-Kol and Bakaly-Kol Lake. The largest of them is Sary-Chelek Lake. This lake is 7.5 km in length and ranges from 0.5 - 1.8 km in width. It is located at an elevation of 1,876 meters. The average depth of the lake is about 100 meters and its maxi-mum depth is 220 meters. Sary-Chelek SSNR (zapovednk) is located in the sharp continen-tal climate zone and it has hot, dry summers and cold, wet winters. However, in view of the complex orography of the territory, which is created by the surrounding mountain spurs and the great amplitude of altitudes that range from 1,200 - 4,247 meters, the local climate has relatively mild winters with little snow, and warm, wet summers. The average tempera-ture during January, the coldest month of the year, is -7.20 C, although cold periods with temperatures reaching -270 C do occur. The average air temperature during July, the warmest month of the year, is 21.30 C, while the maximum temperature is 38 C. The last frosts are observed in late April, and the first, in late September. The vegetation period continues for almost 200 days. Relatively much precipi-tation falls during the course of a year, on average 930 mm, and in some years, 1,100 mm and more.
Flora is very diverse; 30 species are listed in the Red Data Book of the Kyrgyz Republic, and more than 30 plant species are used for medicinal purposes. Sary-Chelek SSNR (zapovednk) was created to preserve and restore natural complexes of nut-bearing forests (Juglans regia, Malus sieversii, Prunus sogdiana, Pyrus communis, and others.), dark coniferous forests of Picea schrenkiana, Abies semenovii; graminous tall-herb savannoids (Turanian tall herb-grass steppe) dominated by Bothriochlora ischaemum, Hordeum bulbo-sum; umbellares with domination by Prangos pabularia and species of Ferula. Particularities of the region's fauna are due to its zoogeo-graphic location. Together with species wide-ly-distributed in temperate Eurasia, species from southern parts of the Asian mainland are also noted. Zoogeographically, the reserve's territory is considered to be in the Nagorno-Asian (Sub-mountain) Province, and the Tian Shan Sub-Province; it constitutes the northern part of the Central Asian "hot-spot" for the formation of alpine fauna (the Western Tian Shan Region, Chatkalo-Talas high mountain territory). A relative impoverishment of Central Asian species is noted, as is the increased presence of species of Ancient Mediterranea.
The Sary-Chelek SSNR (zapovednk) is a sig-nificantly typical part of the Chatkalo-Talas zoogeographic territory.
Tajik National Park is located in the central part of the Pamiro-Alai and encompasses the Academy of Science, Zaalai, Beleush, and Zulumart Mountain Ranges, as well as the eastern parts of the Vanch, Yazgulyam, and Darvaz Mountain Ranges. It has the highest peaks in the Central Asian Region: the Peak named after Ismoily Somony (7,495 meters above sea level) and the Peak named after Lenin (7,134 meters above sea level). Karakul and Sarez Lakes are situated in the park, as are the glaciers named after Fedchenko (77 km long, with a total area of 652 km2) and the Baland, Kiik, and Sauksai River Valleys.
The park is located between 39024 and 38004N and between 73027 and 72000E on the territo-ry of several administrative districts: the Vanch, Rushan, and Murgab Districts in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province; and the Djirgital and Tavildar Districts.
The total area of Tajik National Park compris-es 2.6 million hectarcompris-es.
Statement of Significance
Tajik National Park (TNP) is a unique, inte-grated region that has natural and territorial unity. The park was created to preserve valu-able landscape complexes; rare and endan-gered species of flora and fauna; monuments of nature, culture, and history; and to develop and regulate tourism. One hundred and twen-ty endemic plant and animal species inhabit the park's territory, as do many species that are threatened with extinction. Within the bounds of TNP, there are numerous monu-ments of nature (for example, the glaciers named after Fedchenko and Medvezhy; and the highest mountain peaks, the Peak named after Somony and the Peak named after
Lenin); monuments of culture and history (for example the site of the ancient settlement
"Bozordara"); as well as hot and mineral springs.
The park's value from the standpoint of nature protection has been determined by the impor-tance of preserving the unique and diverse landscapes and biological diversity of flora and fauna of the Pamiro-Darvaz; and by the neces-sity of regulating the economic and recre-ational development of the territory, as well as maintaining a favorable ecological balance in this region and on neighboring territories.
Tajik National Park occupies almost 11% of the republic. In its scale, in the integration of the territory, and in its absolute elevation, it, cer-tainly deserves to be included on the World Heritage List.
Criteria for inscribing the property on UNESCO's World Heritage List
N (i)- Presents primary phases of the Earth's development, significant geological processes in the development of the terrestrial surface, significant geomorphological and physiogeo-graphic particularities of the relief.
The Pamir Plateau is one of the world's high-est plateaus. Pamir is customarily divided into the Western part (Badakhshan), with "young"
mountain forming processes, and the Eastern part (Pamir proper), an ancient mountain system and high mountain flattened plateaus at elevations of 3,000- 4,000 meters and peaks of 7,000 and more meters. On Western Pamir, there is sharply contrasting erosion-denuda-tion relief. Eastern Pamir, with a very large absolute height (no lower than 3,600 meters) is distinguished by its weak surface