Sarychat-Ertash State Reserve is part of the Biosphere Territory "Issyk-Kul"
Scientists from the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic have studied unique natural objects with rare and endangered species of animals and plants in the Sary-Jaz River basin of the Sarychat-Ertash Valley for many years. In the early 1980s, they proposed to the Government of the Republic to organize a state reserve in this area.
Sarychat-Ertash State Reserve is relatively young among the reserves of Kyrgyzstan. It is a specially protected natural area established in 1995, located in the Issyk-Kul region. It was organized by the decree of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic on March 10, 1995, No. 76, and serves as a core zone within the Biosphere Territory "Issyk-Kul" - a reserve status in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (UNESCO-2002) aimed at preserving unique natural complexes, rare and endangered species of animals and plants in the high-altitude zone of the Issyk-Kul region, as well as maintaining the overall ecological balance of the region.
The territory of the reserve is located at the junction of the Inner and Central Tien Shan in the Sarychat - Ertash - Uchkul valley (a tributary of the Sary-Jaz River) and represents a typical area for the high-altitude zone. The total area of the reserve is 135,400 hectares, of which 72,080 hectares are allocated for the core zone and 62,060 hectares for the buffer zone, located at altitudes ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 meters above sea level.
The northern boundary of the core zone starts from the initial point on the Terskey Alatoo ridge, 1 km east of the Jukuchak Pass (4049 m above sea level), in the upper reaches of the Sarychat River, and runs along the Terskey Alatoo ridge eastward to the administrative boundary with the Ak-Suu district.
The eastern boundary follows the administrative border separating the Jeti-Oguz and Ak-Suu districts from the Terskey Alatoo ridge in a southeast direction along the watershed ridge of the Ertash and Koylu rivers, then turns southwest along an unnamed ridge (4303 m above sea level) and descends into the Ertash River valley near its right tributary, the Kurgak-Tepchi River.
Flora
The vegetation cover of the reserve has formed under the influence of extreme factors: sharply continental, cold and dry climate, high hypsometric position, isolation from humid air masses, significant intensity of solar radiation, openness of wide flat spaces dominated by winds, and the absence of a permanent snow cover in winter, which has led to the dominance of low-growing and cushion-like forms of plants, with a prevalence of high-altitude, monodominant sagebrush deserts, fine-tufted steppes, and priority cushion plants, totaling 118 species.
There is a community of rose-colored sagebrush with grasses: Sitnik grass, crested fescue, silky prostrate, spiny sagebrush, and Paulsen's snakehead. The formation of Krylov's fescue with purple and sitnik grasses, Litvinov's fescue, and Kobrezens' fescue is widespread. Kobrezens' communities consist of hair-like kobrezia, silver-leaved sosyurea, spiny sagebrush, narrow-fruited sedge, and low kobrezia. The formation of four-stamen drayad flowers forms cushions, between which grow sedges, Tien Shan reed, silver sosyurea, and others.
Fauna
Animal World
The zoogeographic territory of the Sarychat-Ertash Reserve belongs to the Palearctic region and is part of the Southern Palearctic subregion of the Highland-Asian province, representing the Sary-Jaz section of the same high-altitude zoogeographic district of the Central Tien Shan region.
Mammals
The territory of the Sarychat-Ertash Reserve is home to 25 species of mammals, and it is presumed that 6 more species may inhabit the area (a total of 31 species) belonging to 5 orders, 11 families, and 17 genera: Snow Leopard – Uncia uncia, Pallas's Cat – Felis manul, Wolf – Canis lupus, Fox – Vulpes vulpes, Brown Bear – Ursus arctos, Stone Marten – Martes foina, Solongoi – Mustela altaica, Weasel – Mustela nivalis, Stoat – Mustela erminea, Steppe Ferret – Mustela eversmanni, Mountain Goat, Ibex – Capra ibex (sibirica), Mountain Sheep, Argali – Ovis ammon, Gray Marmot – Marmota baibacina, Tien Shan Pika – Sicista tianschanica, Gray Hamster – Cricetulus migratorius, Silver Field Mouse – Alticola argentatus (roylei), Kyrgyz Field Mouse – Microtus kirgisorum, Narrow-skulled Field Mouse – Microtus gregalis, Sand Hare – Lepus capensis, Big-eared Pika – Ochotona roylei, and others.
Bats have not been studied, although at least 2 species are present.
Red-listed species: leopard, bear, Pallas's cat, and argali.
Research on red-listed species in the reserve began in 2002 under a cooperation program with the International Snow Leopard Trust (ISLT) led by Mr. Thomas McCarthy. Cooperation with ISLT has enabled real research in the reserve. Thanks to financial assistance from ISLT, camera traps were set up in the reserve, which captured photos of the snow leopard, Tien Shan brown bear, mountain sheep, and ibex, as well as other rare species.
Fish
1. Tien Shan Scaly Osman – Diptychus gymnogaster Kessler
2. Tibetan Loach – Nemachilus stoliczkai Stein-dachner
Amphibians and Reptiles
Among amphibians, only one species has been recorded in the reserve – the Green Toad – Bufo viridis, and among reptiles, a lizard is found on the border with the reserve in the area of the Jangart tract.
Invertebrates
Invertebrates in this area have not been studied, although there is a large species diversity due to the variety of landscapes. Among the red-listed species, we have noted the Swallowtail – Papilio machaon and Tien Shan Apollo – Parnassius tianshanicus.
Aquatic invertebrates are of great interest as indicators of water pollution (rivers, lakes), but they have also not been studied.
Birds
The territory of the Sarychat-Ertash Reserve is home to 84 species of birds,
The group of large birds of prey includes the Golden Eagle – Aquila chrysaetos, Bearded Vulture – Gypaetus barbatus, Himalayan Griffin – Gyps himalayensis, Eurasian Griffin – Gyps fulvus, Black Griffin – Aegypius monachus, and Saker Falcon – Falco cherrug.
Birds from the partridge family inhabiting the area include the Himalayan Turkey/ Ular – Tetraogallus himalayensis, Chukar Partridge – Alectoris chukar, and the Mountain Partridge – Perdix dauuricae.
At mountain lakes, Ruddy Shelduck – Tadorna ferruginea and Lesser Sand Plover – Charadrius mongolus are found. In mountain lakes, the Shelduck – Tadorna ferruginea and Mongolian Plover – Charadrius mongolus inhabit.
Typical species from the order of passerine birds include the Chough – Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, Alpine Chough – Pyrrhocorax graculus, Horned Lark – Eremophila alpestris, Pearl Bunting – Leucosticte brandti, Himalayan Bunting – Leucosticte nemorica, Red-winged Wallcreeper – Tichodroma muraria, and other species.
Four red-listed species inhabit the reserve: Golden Eagle – Aquila chrysaetos, Bearded Vulture (Lamb Vulture) – Gypaetus barbatus, Kumai (Snow Griffin) – Gyps himalayensis, Saker Falcon – Falco cherrug Gray