New Nature Reserve for Rare Birds Is Being Established in Turkmenistan
In the Lebap province of Turkmenistan, preparations are underway to create the Tallymerjen Nature Reserve, which will become part of the Köýtendag State Nature Reserve. The project is included in the country’s National Forestry Program and expands the network of specially protected natural areas.
The reserve will occupy part of the Khojamabad district on the right bank of the Amu Darya River. The territory will include a strictly protected zone and a mixed-use area where economic activities are permitted. A buffer zone of about 20,000 hectares is planned around it.
The area features diverse landscapes: low mountains, foothills, and sandy-loess plains. The highest point is Mount Khojalcha (1001 m), and the lowest is the riverbed of the Khali River (343 m). About 160 plant species grow here, mainly shrubs and grasses adapted to the arid climate.
The region serves as a habitat and migratory route for other rare birds, including the steppe eagle, saker falcon, vulture, demoiselle crane, and houbara bustard. In spring, flocks of great bustards, larks, and grey cranes pass through the territory.
This initiative is implemented within the framework of three Rio Conventions, including the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The Tallymerjen Plain has been recognized as a key ornithological area since 2009. From September to October, up to 6,000–8,000 black-tailed godwits arrive here, accounting for more than half of the global population of the species. Ornithologists from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan conduct joint bird monitoring on both sides of the border.
