What is it about?
It has been suggested that over-grazing is detrimental to Houbara habitat and the conservation of this species can be improved by controlling pastoralism. We tested this using data from 231 point counts across a gradient of sheep density and shrub assemblages within 14,300 km2 of the Kyzylkum Desert, Uzbekistan; part of the southern Central Asian Desert. Male houbara numbers were greater with lower mean shrub height, more gravel and flatter surfaces, and density differed among shrub assemblages, but was unaffected by sheep density.
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Why is it important?
There is no evidence that livestock pastoralism is impacting the distribution of Asian Houbara in this landscape; conservation must instead proceed by regulating hunting.
Perspectives
This work was a collaboration by a team of field ornithologists, led by the University of East Anglia, in partnership with the Emirates Bird Breeding Centre for Conservation and BirdLife International. You can see more about the Sustainable Houbara Management programme at: https://www.sustainablehoubaramanagement.org/research-publications/ or follow us on Facebook or Twitter: @SustainHoubara
Professor Paul M Dolman
University of East Anglia
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Effects of habitat and land use on breeding season density of male Asian Houbara Chlamydotis macqueenii, Journal of Ornithology, February 2016, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1007/s10336-015-1320-4.
You can read the full text:
Resources
Effects of habitat and livestock on nest productivity of the Asian houbara Chlamydotis macqueenii in Bukhara province, Uzbekistan
Related paper, showing Asian houbara nest productivity is not reduced in areas of the Kyzlkum with more livestock.
Sustainable Houbara Management website
Website of the Sustainable Houbara Management Programme, a collaboration between the Emirates Bird Breeding Centre for Conservation, BirdLife International and University of East Anglia
Contributors
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