Western/ Central Asian Site Network for the Siberian Crane and Other Waterbirds Part V: Western/Central Asia Site Network for the Siberian Crane and Other Waterbirds WCASN Brief Report for 2007-2009 WCASN Action Plan for 2010-2012 Guidelines to Prepare Site Nomination Documentation (version from December 2010) Introduction five sites from Kazakhstan, two from Iran and one each from India, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Two sites The Western/Central Asian Site Network for Siberian from Pakistan were added to WCASN through recom- Cranes and Other Waterbirds (WCASN) was formally mendations given to WCASN Nomination Committee launched on 18 May 2007 in Kazakhstan, in a special by the current WCASN Nomination Review Working signing ceremony held during the Sixth Meeting of the Group and through presentation of these sites by gov- Signatories (MOS6) to the CMS Memorandum of Un- ernmental representative during special ceremony at derstanding on Conservation Measures for the Siberian the CMS MOS7 in Bonn, Germany, on 12 June 2010. Crane (MOU) under the Convention on Migratory Spe- Other range states (Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Russia cies (CMS). and Pakistan) also proposed their sites and are work- The establishment of a Siberian Crane site network has ing on the preparation of nomination documents. Be- critical importance for Siberian Cranes. It has also ben- sides Kazakhstan proposed more three and Uzbekistan efited other cranes and waterbirds. WCASN is the first proposed more one sites for including to WCASN for step towards developing a more comprehensive site net- future nomination. WCASN Committee and WCASN Re- work for migratory waterbirds under a wider framework view Working Group will advance the work of this ini- proposed within the Central Asian Flyway (CAF) Initia- tiative before the next meeting by reviewing proposals tive under CMS. WCASN will eventually be integrated for additional sites. within the wider waterbird site network under CAF. Since WCASN lunch at the CMS MOS6 in 2007 in Ka- The WCASN focuses on conservation efforts on sites of zakhstan, some activities were implemented at the international importance for the Siberian Crane along designated sites of six countries including prepara- its West and Central Asian flyways in Afghanistan, tion of new sites nomination preparation, increasing of Azerbaijan, India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakh- protected level of WCASN sites, CEPA and information stan, Pakistan, Russian Federation (western Siberia), exchange. Most of activities were implemented dur- Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. According to approved ing implementation of the UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane principles of WCASN, such sites include a) sites impor- Wetlands Project (SCWP) or with support of SCWP for tant for the conservation, recovery and reintroduction countries which were not involved in it implementa- of the Siberian Crane; b) sites which are also important tion. All range states were involved in preparation of for other migratory cranes and waterbirds; c) the im- Atlas of Key Sites for the Siberian Crane and Other portance of involving local people in conservation ef- Waterbirds in Western/Central Asia with was issued in forts at the sites. Russian and English languages. The WCASN goal is to ensure the conservation of the Future WCASN actions will be focused on the designated Siberian Crane and other migratory waterbirds along sites as well as on new sites of other range states which the Western and Central Asian Flyways through rec- can be designated until the next CMS MOS8 meeting, ognition and appropriate management of a network of supporting new nominations, CEPA, hunting reducing internationally important sites. and regional actions to service the site network. During the CMS MOS6 in Kazakhstan in May 2007, the first ten sites were designated within WCASN included 107 Western/ Central Asian Site Network for the Siberian Crane and Other Waterbirds - Brief Report WCASN Brief Report for 2007-2009 1. Site nominations 3. Increasing the protection level of WCASN sites During the CMS MOS6 in Kazakhstan in May 2007, the first ten sites were designated within the Site Network Since the last MOU meeting in 2007 progress was made included five sites from Kazakhstan, two from Iran and on improving the protection level of a number of WCASN one each from India, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. sites with support from the UNEP/GEF Siberian Crane Other range states (Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Russia Wetlands Project (UNEP/GEF SCWP). All 5 WCASN sites and Pakistan) also proposed their sites and are work- in Kazakhstan were included in the List of Wetlands of ing on the preparation of nomination documents. International Importance (Ramsar Convention). In ad- dition, Naurzum Lake System was included as part of a During the site nomination ceremony in Kazakhstan rep- World Heritage Site called “The Saryarka—Steppe and resentatives from the five countries were handed provi- Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan”. In Zharsor-Urkash Lake sional certificates. After the meeting, a logo and certifi- System, the Zharsor-Urkash State Wildlife Refuge at the cate for the WCASN were developed. The final certificates republic level was established, under the management signed by CMS Secretariat and ICF were handed to rep- responsibility of Naurzum State Nature Reserve. Since resentatives of Kazakhstan, India and Iran in Rome, June 2001, Fereydoonkenar in Mazandaran Province Italy, during the CMS COP9 meeting with short intro- in Iran has been a “Non-Shooting Area”, covering Fe- ductions of the designated WCASN sites. Certificates for reydoonkenar, Ezbaran, Eastern & Western Sorkh Rud Turkmenistan site «Durnaly” were passed to the techni- Damgahs and Fereydoonkenar Wildlife Refuge, including cal focal points. In these countries, meetings with repre- a buffer zone around each of these areas. The Ramsar sentatives of local administrations were organised during site at Bujagh has been extended (500 ha) to cover the Crane Celebration events and the certificates were pre- whole national park which consists of the whole of the sented to them. In Uzbekistan, certificate was handed to lagoon area, its associated marshes and the marshes a representative of Termez local administration during and sand flats at the mouth of the Sefid Rud river to Round Table «Presentation of Termez as a wintering site the west. Management plans for Naurzum Lake System of the Western/Central Asian Site Network». and Zharsor-Urkash Lake System were completed. The management plan for the site of Fereydoonkenar, Ez- 2. Status of nomination of new baran & Sorkh Rud Ab-Bandans was finalized through a WCASN sites significant community participation process, and input was provided to the draft management plan for Bujagh Before the CMS MOS7, possibilities for the nomina- National Park. tion of new sites were investigated. During the CMS MOS6, Azerbaijan and Pakistan proposed two sites 4. Atlas of Key Sites for the Siberian each for nomination. However Azerbaijan did not sub- mit a Letter of Endorsement to the CMS Secretariat, Crane and Other Waterbirds in and Pakistan provided insufficient information on the Western/Central Asia proposed sites. Pakistan has since submitted a Letter The Atlas has been prepared for presentation during of Endorsement for the two nominated sites and Site the CMS MOS7 with the active participation of country Information Sheets with updated information to the representatives. For the preparation of this publication, CMS Secretariat. These documents are being reviewed Site Information Sheets for designated and proposed by the WCASN Review Working Group which will make sites were used as well as information from the Sibe- recommendations to the WCASN Committee on the rian Crane database, which was created and managed nomination of these sites. Turkmenistan planned to within the framework of the UNEP/GEF SCWP, and data nominate one more site – Tallymerjen & Kelif-Zeyit, from the literature. however the local administration in that region has changed, therefore the process of endorsement has For each country, a brief overview of wetlands used to be started again. The same situation has occurred by the Siberian Crane and detailed descriptions of his- for the Russian site “Kunovat” located in Yamalo-Ne- torical and recent sightings of the Siberian Crane along neytskiy Autonomous Region, where the Governor was the Western and Central Asian flyways has been pre- recently replaced. Kazakhstan has prepared proposals pared. The most important Siberian Crane sites (green for three new sites, Sarykopa, Turgai-Irgiz and Tengiz- squares) and known Siberian Crane sightings are pre- Kurgaljino Lake Systems, which can be considered for sented in the map for each country (or its part). Each future nomination. Uzbekistan proposed additional site sighting is described in detail in the legend with refer- Talimarjan for nomination to WCASN. ence to information sources. Despite the quite com- 108 Western/ Central Asian Site Network for the Siberian Crane and Other Waterbirds - Brief Report prehensive overview of Siberian Crane sightings, it is and Turkmenistan, Crane Celebrations were organised possible that some sightings have been be missed, where education and information materials provided especially those described in local publications. Please by the Crane Working Group of Eurasia and published provide information on any omissions to Elena Ilyash- with the support of UNEP/GEF SCWP and CMS Secre- enko ([email protected]). tariat were shared. Turkmenistan also