Ashgabat, 23 November 2009. In the middle of November in coastal area of Turkmen part of Caspian Sea the next national survey of water birds has been carried out. The survey was organized by the specialists of Hazar state reserve with the help of the UNDP project “Conservation and Sustainable Use of Globally Significant Biological Diversity in Hazar Nature Reserve on the Caspian Sea Coast” being jointly implemented with the Global Environmental Facility and the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan. The main objective of the survey was to find out the number and species variety of birds crossing the territory of Turkmenistan.

Three ornithological groups during five days were carrying out research activities all across Turkmen sector of Caspian Sea. Within this activity ornithological groups have found the stock of European white pelicans, which is a very rare species in our sector and enlisted in the Red Book of Turkmenistan. Totally in Turkmen sector of Caspian Sea around 100.000 birds were found.

Turkmen coastal area of Caspian Sea is an important wintering and stopping place during the migration of birds. In February 2009 under the initiative of the President of Turkmenistan the territory of Hazar State Reserve has been included to the list of Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of global significance. Conducting bird survey intends to assess the state of biological diversity and significance of some of it’s parts as a habitat. Based on the results of the survey justification for hunting is prepared and measures on nature conservation are identified.