Nature of Uzbekistan

Nature of Uzbekistan

Eco tourism in Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan nature reserves

Nature Reserves in Uzbekistan

Abdusamatsky(13 km2) was formed in 1974 in the Fergana Region to preserve pheasant and tugai.

AbdusamatskyNature Reserve was formerly a State Reserve with an area of 22 km2.

Akbulaksky(352 km2) is a buffer zone for Chatkalsky National Park.

Arnasaisky(630 km2) was also once a State Reserve. In Djizak Region, its mission is the preservation of Lake Tuzkan.

Sangardaksky(38 km2) is located in the Surkhan Darya Region, at the headwaters of the Sangardak River.

Djeiran EcoCenter(51 km2) was formed in 1977 to breed endangered djeiran (Gasella subgutturosa) and MacQueen's bustard (Chlamydotis undulata). Located in the Bukhara Region in a sand and clay desert, this unique institution is classified here as a nature reserve only as a result of recent events.

Zaamin Mountainous Forest (Juniper) Reserve

The Juniper (founded in 1926) is in the Djizak region in the western part of the Turkestan Ridge. Its area is 10,500 ha.
The sides of the mountains are covered with juniper forests and alpine meadows. The highest mountain point is 3500 meters above sea level.

Such animals as wild boars, wolves, foxes, porcupines, badgers, and hares inhabit the area. There are bears and lynxes in the forest juniper belt. The subalpine zone is inhabited by more than 350 wild mountain goats. There are plenty of birds in the juniper zone: stone grouse, rose starlings, larks, kestrels, magpies, and thrushes. But the most characteristic bird is the juniper grosbeak. Birds of prey are represented by the sparrow-hawk, the golden eagle, the white-headed griffin, and the bearded vulture. The black stork nests in the Chantanga Gorge.

There are over 700 species of plants under protection in the reserve.

Chatkal Mountainous Forest Reserve
The Chatkal Mountain Forest Reserve (founded in 1947) is on the spurs of the Chatkal Ridge of the western part of the Tian-Shan Mountains. Its area is 35,000 ha. Divided by gorges, the mountains of the reserve reach more than 3,500 meters above sea level.
There are about 600 species of grasses and about 40 species of shrubs in the reserve. A considerable part of the slopes is covered with natural juniper forests and various shrubs. There are birch groves along the river banks. Sea buckthorn, walnut trees, rowan trees, stone trees, pistachio trees, and a large number of other species, which are endemic to the area of the west Tian-Shan Mountains, grow in the reserve.

Of the animals, there are wild mountain goats, bears, wild boars, foxes, and marmots. The snow leopard can be found high in the mountains. Birds are represented by the stone grouse and the partridge. The area of Bashkizylsai is notable for its rock paintings and petroglyphs depicting wild animals being hunted by primitive men.

Nurata Mountainous Nut and Fruit Nature Reserve

Gissar State Reserve
Established in 1983. Its area is 80,986.1 hectares, of which 12,203 ha are forested, 27,450 ha consist of meadows, and 171 are made up of reservoirs. There are 870 species of plants and about 140 species of animals inhabiting its territory. The staff of the reserve equals 56 employees, of whom 35 are state inspection staff and 8 scientific employees.
Gissar is located in the Kashkadarya area, among the western spurs of the Gissar ridge. The objective is to save the natural complexes and ecosystems of the Gissar ridge.

Surkhan State Reserve
Consists of two independent sites:
1. Aral-Paigambar (at the moment its activity is frozen because of complex political conditions), organized in 1971, is typical of the valley-tugai ecosystems of the Amu-Darya River. Its area is 3,093 hectares, 964 of which are forested. The reserve was created to save the unique tugai ecosystem, with its characteristic fauna.
The reserve is inhabited by the Bukhara deer included in the international Red Book, the wild boar, the reed cat, the Iranian otter, and others. Of birds there are Tadjik pheasants, grey geese, Turkestan nightingale, blackbirds, Indian starlings, and others.

2. Kugitanskiy - established in 1987, covering mountain and forest ecosystems. Area: 24,583 hectares. Typical of the mountain ecosystems of the Kugitang ridge. On the site more than 800 species of plants, about 290 species of birds, and more than 20 species of animals have been sighted. Under special protection are the Spiral Horned Goat or Markhur (280 head), mountain sheep (36 head) and other rare species. Protection staff: 25 inspectors.

Most of the reserve is in the Surkhan-Darya area and is typical of the natural environments of southern Uzbekistan.

Kyzyl-kum State Reserve
Established in 1971 in the Bukhara area. The area of reserve is 10,141 hectares, of which 6,964 hectares are sand and 3,177 are in the Amu-Darya's flood plain. Special attention should be paid to the Bukharan Deer - the number of which has grown from 20 head in 1971 to 200 head today. Staff: 10 inspectors.

Baday-Tugai State Reserve
Established in 1971 in the Republic of Karakalpakistan. Area: 6,462 hectares. Located downstream on the right bank of the Amu-Darya River, on the territory of the Beruni and Kegelli districts. The reserve was created with the purpose of saving the tugai forest and fauna under the conditions of the regulated flow of the Amu-Darya River. Tugai forests comprise over 70% of its area.
Fauna is represented by: more than 91 species of birds, 15 species of mammals, and 15 species of fish. In 1975, 3 head of rare Bukhara deer were brought to the reserve, and by 1995 their number had reached 18, of which 6 in 1996 were moved to the Zerafshan reserve. Some species of exotic animals such as hyenas, wild sheep, bald badger, porcupine and some rare birds like the Egyptian vulture and white headed owl can be found here.

Zerafshan State Reserve
Established in 1975 in the Samarkand region. Area: 2,352 hectares, 868 of them forested, 725 un-forested. The Reserve is a narrow strip stretching along the Zerafshan River as far as 45 km.
The objective of the reserve is the protection and restoration of the tugai ecosystem, and in particular the salvation of sea buckthorn and the population of rare subspecies of Zerafshan pheasant, the number of which in 1995 has reached 4,000. Protection staff: 8 inspectors.

Uzbekistan Hunting Board

Offer for Natural parks and hunting grounds. The opportunity to see Severtsev ram, Bukharian deer, snow leopard and other rare animals of Uzbekistan

OrexCA.com together with the Hunting Board and Administration of State Reserves and National Parks of the Republic of Uzbekistan has the honor of presenting you info on the possibility of eco-tours in Uzbek National Parks and some unique places adjacent to several State Reserves of Uzbekistan.
These are dense woods, Alpine meadows and extensive meadows, traces of dinosaurs, and rare animals and predators. In the area of Nuratinskiy reserve, the Severtsev ram , lives and breeds; in the area of the Zaaminskiy, the Siberian goat , and white clawed bear; and in the area of the Zarafshanskiy and Baday-Tugayskiy, the Bukharian deer. Traveling around the natural landscapes of Uzbekistan, you will enjoy the purest mountain air among junipers forests and see beautiful wild nature at its finest.

Upon your request we will develop special itineraries for eco-tourism, auto-tourism and fishing in Uzbekistan. Exotic mountain gorges that compare with the Swiss Alps in beauty, the sands of the Kyzyl-Kum desert, both tugai and mountain juniper forests and other picturesque spots will surprise you in Uzbekistan.
The fauna of Uzbekistan is very diverse. About 430 species of birds and 40 species of mammals live here. 74 species of fish are found in the rivers of Uzbekistan. In the mountains it is possible to see white clawed or Tian-Shan bear, snow leopard, koodoo, wolves, foxes, wild boars, kekliks and etc.; in the deserts and valleys we can see jeyran, saigak, hares, and different species of lizards, snakes, and turtles.

We hope our oriental hospitality and the customer-oriented service of our employees, accompanied by the monuments of ancient cultures, exotic landscapes and rich flora and fauna will allow you to have a nice vacation and leave unforgettable impressions.

A brief review of hunting activities available in Hunting Board lands, Reserves and National Parks of Republic of Uzbekistan.

There are 6 State forest hunting grounds under the supervision of the Board, whose task is the preservation of flora and fauna and their rational use.

Karakul State forest hunting ground
Karakul (Karakulskoe) State forest hunting ground was created in 1998 on the basis of a specialized nursery for the breeding of wild animals. 
It is located in the Karakul area of Bukhara region, with an area of 875 ha.
The Regional Municipality has issued a State certificate giving the right of constant use of the ground. According to the department of land, the Hunting ground has the following categories of land: wooded area - 5516.9 ha, including forest - 3998.4 ha, un-forested - 1548.5 ha; non-wooded - 2758.1 ha, including water ~ 2146.2 ha, roads - 2.6 ha, and other land - 609.3 ha.
The flora is desert-sandy, and on the banks of waterways grow tugais, with a prevalence of reeds, reed mace and cane.
The basic hunting species are wild boars, jackals, foxes, hares, and waders. 
Location - 700 km from Tashkent and 100 km from Bukhara.

Dalverzin (Dalverzinskoe) State forest hunting ground
Located in the Bekabad area of the Tashkent region, in the floodplain of the Syr-Darya River. Its general area is 5360 ha.
The flora is tugai, with a prevalence of "turanga" trees. The basic species of game animals are: wild boar, badgers, jackals, wild catst, hares, Syr-Darya pheasants, and waders. In the 6 hunter's reserves there are hunting lodges. Besides the organization of hunts, the Hunting ground offers its services for fishing and recreation.
Remoteness from Tashkent: 100 km.

Arnasay (Arnasayskoe) State forest hunting ground
Located in the Farish area of the Dzhizak region, on the Arnasay floodplain. Its area is 16,500 ha, including water-covered area is 11000 ha.
Flora is tugai, with a prevalence of shrubs of tamarisk and reed. At higher elevations are trees of saxaul, kandym and ephemera.
The hunting species are represented by wild boar, jackals, badgers, foxes, wild cats, , Semirechenskiy pheasant, hares, waders, and keklik. The Hunting ground is located 280 km from Tashkent.
In 3 hunters' reserves there are hunters' lodges and tents. Recreation and fishing can be organized by the Hunting board.

Karakulskoe State forest hunting ground
Karakul (Karakulskoe) State forest hunting ground was created in 1998 on the basis of a specialized nursery for the breeding of wild animals.
Located in the Karakul area of the Bukhara region, in the arid parts of the Kyzyl Kum. 
The general area is 8275 ha, including area covered with water 2.1 thousand ha (Tuzkan Lake). Fauna is desert-sandy, and near the water reservoirs grows tugai, with a prevalence of reed, reed mace and cane. The basic hunting species of game are wild boar, jackals, foxes, hare, and waders. Hunters' area is equipped for accommodation of 6 visitors. The Hunting ground offers services for hunters and fishermen.
Located in 700 km from Tashkent and in 100 km from Bukhara.

Bukharskoe State forest hunting ground
Having been recently organized, it is located in the Alattsk area of the Bukhara region. The general area is 39,000 ha, including a water covered area of 22,000 ha (Dengizkul Lake). 
Types of fauna and wild game are similar to those of the Karakuslkoe State forest hunting ground.
Hunters' areas are not equipped yet, but the Hunting ground can arrange the logistics for hunting and fishing (tents, etc.).
Located 700 km from Tashkent and 90 km from Bukhara.

Kungradskoe State forest hunting ground
Located in the Kungradskiy area of the Republic of Karakalpakistan. The general area of the reserve is 2,606,515 ha, the largest part of which is on the Ustyurt Plateau, the smaller on the floodplain of the Amu-Darya River. 
Fauna is desert and tugai. The basic game types are: saiga, wolf, fox, hare, Khiva pheasant, and natatorial.
The Hunting ground has no specially equipped areas, but is available to provide for hunting and fishing trips.
Located 1150 km from Tashkent, 150 km from Nukus.

Kazakdaryinskoe State forest hunting ground
Located in the Muynak area of the Republic of Karakalpakistan. The area of the hunting ground is 400,970 ha, including water covered area - 50,000 ha (Jyltyrbas Lake). 
Fauna is desert and tugai. The basic game types are: wild boar, wolf, jackal, wild cats, fox, hare, Khiva pheasant, and natatorial. As the hunting ground is located in a flight zone of waterfowl during the fall-winter period, hunters may successfully hunt various species of duck and gray geese. The hunting ground also arranges fishing and recreation excursions. A Hunters' area is available.
Located 1200 km from Tashkent, 100 km from Nukus.