Este sitio comprende dos zonas protegidas que totalizan una superficie de 450.344 hectáreas: la Reserva Natural Estatal de Naurzum y la Reserva Natural Estatal de Korgalzhyn. Ambas reservas poseen humedales de gran importancia para algunas aves acuáticas migratorias como la grulla blanca de Siberia –una especie sumamente rara– el pelícano de Dalmacia y el pigargo de Pallas, entre otras muchas más. Estos humedales son una encrucijada y una escala de importancia fundamental en la ruta migratoria seguida en el Asia Central por aves procedentes de África, Europa y Asia Meridional, que se dirigen hacia sus lugares de reproducción situados en el este y el oeste de Siberia. Las 200.000 hectáreas de estepa característica del Asia Central que comprende este sitio albergan más de la mitad de la flora esteparia de toda la región, así como algunas especies de pájaros amenazadas y el antílope saiga. Este mamífero en peligro de extinción era antaño muy abundante, pero su población se ha reducido en proporciones muy considerables a causa de la caza furtiva. El sitio posee también dos conjuntos de lagos de agua dulce y salada situados en la divisoria de las aguas entre ríos que fluyen hacia el Ártico, por el norte, y hacia las cuencas del Mar de Aral y del río Irtich, por el sur.

Valor universal excepcional en inglés

Values Saryarka - Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan protects substantial, largely undisturbed areas of Central Asian steppe and lakes in the Korgalzhyn and Naurzum State Nature Reserves. The property’s wetland areas are of outstanding importance for migratory waterbirds, including substantial populations of globally threatened species, as they are key stopover points and crossroads on the Central Asian flyways. The property’s steppe areas provide a valuable refuge for over half the species of the region’s steppe flora, a number of threatened bird species and the critically endangered Saiga antelope. Criterion (ix): Ongoing biological and ecological processes: The property contains substantial areas of steppe and lakes with largely undisturbed associated biological and ecological processes. The seasonal dynamics of the hydrology, chemistry and biology of the lakes, with the diverse flora and fauna of the wetlands have evolved through complex wetting and drying cycles, and are of global significance and scientific interest. The wetlands of Korgalzhyn and Naurzum State Nature Reserves are key stopover points and crossroads on the Central Asian migratory bird flyways and are of outstanding importance for migratory waterbirds on their way from Africa, Europe and South Asia to their breeding places in Western and Eastern Siberia. The property also contains over 200,000 ha of Central Asian steppe, more than half of which is pristine, and which is part of the temperate grassland biome. Criterion (x): Biological diversity and threatened species: Korgalzhyn and Naurzum State Nature Reserves protect large areas of natural steppe and lake habitats that sustain a diverse range of Central Asian flora and fauna and support vast numbers of migratory birds, including substantial populations of many globally threatened species. The Korgalzhyn-Tengiz lakes provide feeding grounds for up to 15-16 million birds, including flocks of up to 2.5 million geese. They also support up to 350,000 nesting waterfowl, while the Naurzum lakes support up to 500,000 nesting waterfowl. The property’s steppe areas provide a valuable refuge for over half the species of the region’s steppe flora, a number of threatened bird species and the critically endangered Saiga antelope, a once abundant species much reduced across its range by poaching pressure. Integrity The property contains high quality steppe and lake habitats that are essential for the long term conservation of the region’s biological diversity and each of its two component areas is of sufficient size to maintain associated biological and ecological processes. Korgalzhyn and Naurzum State Nature Reserves have benefited from long-term legal protection as strict nature reserves. Korgalzhyn is completely surrounded by a buffer zone, while Naurzum consists of three strictly protected areas, each surrounded by a buffer zone and linked together by an ecological corridor. The reserves are complementary in their values despite the 350 km distance between them. The property and the buffer zones, which are not part of the inscribed property, are adequately demarcated in the field. Requirements for Protection and Management The property has effective legal protection, is currently well managed and benefits from strong support and funding from the government and international partners. An integrated management plan has been developed for the property and the government has committed human and financial resources for its effective implementation. All land in the reserves is state owned and no permanent settlements are allowed. No uses of wild animals and plants are allowed and there is limited visitor access to the property. At present there are only few visitors to the property but tourism is likely to increase in the future and needs to be well planned and managed. Another key management priority is the maintenance of the hydrological regimes on which the viability of the property’s wetland ecosystems depend, in the case of Lake Tengiz primarily the inflows from the Nura River.