State Forest Nature Reservat "Ertis Ormany"

Ertis Forest – a state natural forest reserve. It was formed from the merger of the state forest institutions for the protection of the Beskaragai and Shaldai forests and wildlife of the Republic of Kazakhstan’s Committee for Forestry and Wildlife Management, with a total area of 277 961 ha (Shaldai branch 143 247 ha, Beskaragai 134 714 ha). Its territory is provided with a unique level of protection for “especially valuable forest areas”. The purpose of its establishment is to preserve and restore the juniper forests of the Ertis region in the Abai and Pavlodar regions, which have special ecological, scientific, cultural and recreational value.

Geographic location

It is located in the Sharbakty and Akkuly districts of Pavlodar region, in the southwestern part of the Kulundy plain. The area extends 133 km from north to south and 130 km from west to east. Its area in Sharbakty district is 117 816 ha; in Akkuly district – 160 145 ha.

Flora

The flora of the reserve includes 215 species belonging to 6 higher plant groups and 4 subgroups, 50 families, and 148 genera. The overwhelming majority of the species are conifers, with 208 species (constituting 96.7 % of the total number of species). Among the conifers, the gymnosperms dominate, with 164 species (78.8 % of all conifers). The leading families of the flora are arcto‑geyan families: Asteraceae – 34 species (15.8 % of the total list of higher plant flora), Poaceae – 30 species (13.9 %), Fabaceae – 17 species (7.9 %) and Rosaceae – 17 species (7.9 %). The main biomorphs of the flora are perennial grasses, accounting for 132 species (61.4 %). The remaining biomorphs have far fewer species: annual grasses – 21 species (9.7 %), biennial grasses – 18 species (8.4 %), shrubs – 15 species (7 %), trees – 14 species (6.5 %). A small number of species of the remaining biomorphs (subshrubs, semi‑shrubs, dwarf shrubs, lianas) are present, together constituting only 14 species (6.5 %). The total forest stock area in the reserve is 277 961 ha, of which 159 470 ha is covered with forest land. The main forest‑forming species are pine – 140.7 thousand ha (94.9 % of forest land), spruce – 4.7 thousand ha (3.2 %), birch – 1.1 thousand ha (0.7 %).

Fauna

The reserve fauna is diverse, according to the latest inventory there are 63 species of vertebrate animals belonging to the groups of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. From the amphibian group one species of tailless amphibian – the smooth newt frog is found. The bird group (eagle, buzzard, kite, hawk, shrike, lark, black wheatear, wheatear, steppe warbler, curlew, grey jay, brown owl, etc.) includes 13 orders, 24 families and 43 species. Species included in Kazakhstan’s Red Book: eagle, buzzard, kite, wheatear. The mammal group (sable, arctic fox, wolf, common fox, marten, common weasel, Siberian ermine, elk, hare, steppe hare, lynx, polecat, bat, earless hedgehog, shrew, forest mouse, common mouse, house mouse, red‑billed woodpecker) comprises 6 orders, 10 families and 20 species. From the reptile group only the grass snake and the common sand snake are found.