KGZ05 Key biodiversity area Aflatun-Padysh-Ata

Area: 60 000 hа.
Category of KBA: B1



The species that initiated the isolation of KBA[and other species under threatened with global extinction, which are present in the KBA, but which have not been confirmed to meet the global KBA criteria]: Abies semenovii, Allium dodecadontum, Allium viridiflorum, Androsace aflatunensis, Bunium sary-cheleki, Bupleurum ferganense, Corydalis subverticillata, Elisanthe fedtschenkoana, Ferula czatkalensis, Lathyrus dominianus, Primula eugeniae, Pseudosedum ferganense, Silene fetissovii, Malus niedzwetzkyana, Malus sieversii, [Panthera uncia]



Availability of PA: (yes)
Settlements on the territory of the KBA: Tash-Kojo-Ter
Adjacent to the territory of the KBA: Kashka-Suu, Itagar, Aflatun, Tegermen Sai, Togolok, Toktu, Deres-Sai, Kara-Bashat, Chuluk-Kolot, Togolok, etc.



«Aflatun» zone: The Aflatun Gorge (Avletim) of the Aksy District of Jalal-Abad is located on the southeastern slopes of the Chatkal Range and occupies the basin of the Aflatun River, the largest right tributary of the Kara-Suu River. The distance from the city of Osh to the zone is about 320 km along the highway leading to the village of Avletim.



From the village of Avletim, a dirt road was laid upstream of the river, which reaches the Avletim forestry. It spreads over an area of 304 hectares on the slopes of the Aflatun River gorge from a height of 1500 m to 2500 m. It was organized back in 1975 to protect a forest site of Semenov fir, an endemic of the Tien Shan.



The Aflatun basin at a distance of 15-18 km directly adjoins the main ridge of the Chatkal Range, where the highest point reaches 4340 m. Four glaciers with a total area of less than 1.5 square kilometers have been preserved in the upper reaches of the river.



Two river terraces are covered with herbs, only below, at the very bed of the river, a narrow strip of trees stretches. Further, the river deepens into a rocky canyon, the walls of which grow as it approaches the mountain range. After 2-3 km, the gorge reaches its greatest depth, the rocky cliffs of the left bank are especially grandiose, the gray sheer wall of which rises 1000 m above the riverbed.



In the area of the reserve, the Uu-Tor tributary flows into Aflatun on the right. At the confluence there is a powerful tower of weathered sandstones about 300 m high Alan-Kara (Alan-Too). This rock is reminiscent of a Central Asian fortress, the foot of which is framed by thousand-year-old, several girths, walnut trees. Through their dense crown, in some places, the pointed peaks of the Semenov fir on the slopes of Aylan-At make their way. In the upper reaches of the Tuyuk, a tributary of the Uu-Tor, there is a picturesque waterfall. Water falls from a rock wall several tens of meters high.
Where its right tributary Ak-Chelek flows into Aflatun, there is an interesting rocky grotto up to 20 m wide. Aflatun Gorge is very beautiful. Its bottom and almost the entire northern slope are hidden under a dense fir forest. In summer, the southern slope is covered with thickets of eremurus. Everywhere there are steep rocky walls made of limestone, hanging in huge blocks.



A very attractive confluence of the Aflatun and its tributary Oy-Alma, located about 10 km upstream of the reserve. Here the valley opens wide and pleases the eye with a spruce forest. The left slope of Oi-Alma is more gentle with traces of landslides and avalanches. The steep right slope is overgrown with fir trees. In the upper reaches, both gorges narrow significantly - here begins the kingdom of alpine meadows. From the upper reaches of the Oi-Alma through the Kuldam-Bes pass (2800 m) to the Sary-Chelek zone, a one-of-a-kind “raspberry path” leads, so named because of the dense thickets of raspberries that stretch for a long distance.



The Aflatun Gorge is also unique in that there are many historical and cultural monuments, ancient settlements (the ancient settlement of Batyrakan) and ancient graves of Muslim saints. The gorge offers many options for lovers of ecotourism: hiking and horseback riding through the gorges, as well as cultural and educational tours to the monuments of ancient history.



The natural world of the gorge is extremely diverse and offers many opportunities for travelers. Numerous tourist hiking and horse trails lead through it, including through the pass to the beautiful Sary-Chelek nature reserve.



Species that initiated the creation of the KBA: Abies semenovii, Allium dodecadontum, Allium viridiflorum, Androsace aflatunensis, Bunium sary-cheleki, Bupleurum ferganense, Corydalis subverticillata, Elisanthe fedtschenkoana, Ferula czatkalensis, Lathyrus dominianus, Primula eugeniae, Pseudosedum ferganense, Silene fetissovii, Malus niedzwetzkyana, Malus sieversii, Panthera uncia.
Source: https://time.kg/365kg/231288-59-365-uschele-aflatun.html



Padysh-Ata state reserve: The Padysh-Ata State Reserve was organized on the basis of the Decree of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic dated July 3, 2003 No. 405 on the lands of the Padysha-Ata forestry of the Avletim forestry on an area of 30,560 hectares.
Of the total area of the reserve, forest lands occupy 15184.1 ha (49.7%). The forested area occupies 13,777.5 hectares (45.1% of the total area of the reserve). The increase in the forested area of the reserve is due to good natural regeneration (spruce, fir, juniper, etc.).
The main goal of organizing the reserve is to preserve the unique juniper forests and Semyonov's fir, which is listed in the Red Book of the Kyrgyz Republic.



The reserve is located in the foothills of the spurs of the At-Oynok ridge, between the Kuraminsky ridge, the Kassan-Sai uplift and the Bozbu-Too ridge in a zone of sharply continental climate with moderately cold winters and hot summers.
According to the data of the hydrometeorological station "Padish-Ata" for 2003, the average annual air temperature in July is +18.6 C°, and in January - 3.4 C°.



There are 4 types of landscapes in the reserve: desert lowlands; variegated lowlands; massive smoothed mountains; rocky mountains (highlands).
The main water artery of the reserve is the Padysh-Ata River, which flows through the valley in the direction from north to south. The source of the Padysh-Ata River is the Muz-Top River, which in turn flows from the ridge of the same name. And also the components of the water artery of the territory of the reserve are the rivers - Kashka-Suu, Olzhoke, Chytty, Ak-Korgon, Kaman-Arka, Kok-Ala-Teke, Karagaily, Joon-Bakan, Zhylandy, Kok-Dobo, Kaiyndy-Bulak, Tostu, Olon-Bulak.



The reserve is distinguished by the richness and diversity of natural conditions and natural resources. Unique juniper and spruce-fir forests, historical and natural monuments are located here, rare and endemic species of animal population are noted, relict walnut forests grow; beautiful subalpine and alpine meadows delight with their splendor.



The territory of the reserve is divided into the following ecosystems: glacial-nival (glaciers, rocks, talus), alpine and subalpine meadows, spruce-fir forests, juniper and juniper-deciduous forests, mountain-deciduous, mountain-floodplain forests, dark coniferous-mountain forests, dark coniferous-deciduous forests, walnut forests, shrub forests.



Tree and shrubby plants of the reserve: Semyonov fir, Tien Shan spruce, junipers, birches, walnuts, elms, apple trees, pears, plums, maple, hawthorn, cherries, willows, poplars, ash, honeysuckle, wild roses, barberry, mountain ash, spirea , caragana, exochord, abelia, aflatunia. About 800 species of herbaceous plants grow in the reserve. Medicinal plants are represented by 22 species.



Plant species of the reserve, listed in the Red Book:
• Semenov's fir is an endemic-dominant, relict, boreal species of the Western Tien Shan. The area of optimal development of fir forests is within the absolute heights of 1700-2500 m LL. Fir forests in the reserve are 351.9 hectares. On the territory of the reserve, Semenov's firs are everywhere taken under protection. The restoration of spruce-fir forests in the reserve is going well.
• The Nedzvetsky’s apple tree is a very rare sub-endemic species for Kyrgyzstan, which is under the threat of extinction. Relic. Decorative.
• Pear of Central Asia - a rare endemic species.
• Rowan Turkestan is an endemic species of the Tien Shan and Pamir-Alay. In the reserve, it is distributed at an altitude of 1700-2300 m above sea level. Large shrub or tree up to 5m.
• Koopmann's euonymus is a species with a declining population. Relic. Low, evergreen shrub 60 cm high, often creeping.
• Elecampane high - a species with a declining range and stock. A perennial herbaceous plant with a fleshy rhizome and a short multi-headed root.
• Tulip Kaufman - endemic of the Western Tien Shan. Stocks are significant, but declining.
• Hedysarum bristle-fruited is a rare narrowly endemic species, a relic.

KGZ05 Aflatun-Padysh-Ata: Key biodiversity area Aflatun-Padysh-Ata