Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Jan. 26 / Trend , E.Hasanov/
The British Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) assists Turkmenistan in determining the most representative habitat zones of birds which is endangered species, the Turkmen Ministry of Nature Protection reported.
The action is being held under the program on Key ornithological territories of Central Asia (IBA/CA). Ashgabat joined the program in 2004.
A reference base was formed as a result of the held actions within last three years. A total of 50 Important Bird Areas (IBA) were revealed and described. These IBAs cover the country's all natural ecosystem which makes up 7 percent of the Turkmen territory.
Almost 80 percent of 50 IBA was fully or partially selected for the endangered species which are 17 in Turkmenistan, including three critically threatened areas, two vanishing species, 8 vulnerable and four close to the endangered ones. About half of the Turkmen IBA have been chosen for biome-limited species. A total of 30 territories (60 percent) have been qualified for waterfowl or land birds.
Only 16 (32 percent) of identified 50 IBA are fully or partially under legislative protection of the Turkmen Nature Protection Ministry as natural state reserves and preserves and the remained 34 territories (68 percent) are not currently protected.
IBA Protection Strategy and its monitoring will be developed under the second phase of the 2009-2010 program. Realization of the project will enable to form a stable theoretical base to develop and realize national programs on the protected territories and to preserve usual habitat areas of wild birds in the country.
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