Monitoring of flora and fauna at KOGCF ^{GRI 304-2}

The flora of the monitoring sites is represented by 133 species of higher plants from 31 bloodlines and 95 genera, which is 35.9% of the flora recorded for the entire territory of the KOGCF SPZ. The most common bloodlines are as follows: Asteraceae, Poaceae, Brassicaceae, and Fabaceae. The most of the genera are noted in the same bloodlines. The analysis of the life forms of species showed that perennial grasses are predominant – 82 species (62.6%).

The five species included in the Red Book of the Republic of Qazaqstan and endangered species were recorded in the research area: Carnation andrzejowskianus (Dianthus andrzejowski), Schrenck's tulip (Tulipa shrenkii), Woodland tulip (Tulipa biebersteiniana), Pheasant's eye (Adonis vernalis), Fischer's star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum fischeranum). Of these, three Red Book Species make up a large abundance: Woodland tulip (Tulipa biebersteiniana), Schrenk's tulip (Tulipa shrenkii), Fischer's star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum fischerianum).

The most of the Karachaganak field area is occupied by anthropogenic modifications of vegetation, which, to varying degrees, has lost its ecological and resource potential and biological diversity, compared to the background. The most disturbed communities are found in the area of the field infrastructure facilities and along the edges of roads. The anthropogenic modifications of communities are diagnosed by the presence of a significant abundance of wormwood species (Artemisia austriaca, A. lerchiana), as well as weed species such as marsupial and sandy stags (Ceratocarpus utriculosus, Allisum desertorum, Tanacetum millifolium). The negative impacts on vegetation on most part of the research area are expressed in mechanical damage to plants by poaching, passing cars, construction and other activities. Due to the passage of time, on most of the research areas, fallows, there is a gradual restoration of the damaged vegetation. A comparison of the research results of 2013,2016, 2019 and 2022 shows that where the work is no longer underway, there is a natural restoration of vegetation. In general, the state of vegetation at the Karachaganak field can be described as satisfactory. There are no irreversible violations in the vegetation cover associated with the activities of the KPO company. Last vegetation monitoring studies were carried out in 2022. 

The KOGCF faunal complex is a west steppe zoogeographic area and it appears to be primarily steppe in nature.

According to the literary sources, potential diversity of animals in the area of the KOGCF accounts to some 122 species of terrestrial vertebrates, including amphibians - 8, reptiles - 13, mammals - 56 and more than 200 species of birds.

As per the Biodiversity Action Plan the next stage of fauna monitoring in the Karachaganak field was carried out during spring and autumn of 2024. The population of amphibians and reptiles, taking into account seasonal changes in activity, remains at a stable level, and no changes in the species composition were noted.

Any noticeable changes in the species composition of mammals, the abundance and ratio of species that had made part the faunal community were not found.  A particular feature of spring 2024 was a bigger number of vital activity traces left by boars if compared against 2021, recorded in the majority of surveyed routes.  In autumn 2024 the faunal community was characterised by a bigger number of visually spotted Siberian roe deer if compared against 2021.

The current state of the fauna in the territory under consideration is assessed as satisfactory (the change in the ratio of trophic groups of the zoocenosis is expressed in a decrease in zoophages or saprophages by 5%; the anthropogenic impact is fixed at the lower level of ecosystem stability).

The fauna monitoring results, the analysis of the abundance and level of faunal form species diversity of terrestrial vertebrates in spring and autumn 2024 did not identify any noticeable negative impact from the KOGCF production facilities on the faunal complex in the surveyed territory.

The security regime in the KOGCF territory creates favourable conditions for the fauna development in sites not impacted by the venture operations. The production facilities’ operation is a factor of concern for most animals.  At the same time, the territories of the facilities themselves are not lifeless.  At the field itself, the production associated with the hydrocarbon extraction consists of point and linear facilities distributed over a large area, between which the islands acceptable for the fauna to inhabit are preserved.

At present, the conditions have been created for a number of signs similar to those reserve within the KOGCF and adjacent lands: there is no cattle grazing, haymaking and hunting, vehicle traffic is regulated, and there are no villages with permanent residence of people.  The significant area covering various biotopes is covered by the venture’s security regime.

According to the hydro biological studies data, the ichthyofauna species richness in the area under the scrutiny, includes some 10 species of fishes representing 3 bloodlines that relate to 3 orders.   Most common species include: crucian carp, roach and perch.  All the registered species are well-known and common for the internal Kazakhstan waters (Kazakhstan Fishes, 1987-89).

The second monitoring of ichthyofauna and its food reserve (plankton, benthos) was performed in 2024 in the areas selected for survey in the KOGCF and adjacent territories (Berezovka River and Konchubai gully) with the sampling of aquatic life tissues (fish, molluscs) and bottom deposits for chemical analysis.

According to the hydrobiological studies data, the ichthyofauna species richness in the area under the scrutiny, includes some 8 species of fishes representing 3 bloodlines: the Esocidae, the Cyprinidae, and the Percidae.

Compared to 2018 the ichthyofauna species composition in 2024 remained generally at the same level.

The entomofauna monitoring was performed for the first time in 2020.

During the entomofauna survey held, 349 species or subspecies of insects and spiders related to 2 classes, 14 orders, 103 bloodlines and 290 genera were revealed on 20 monitoring sites of the KOGCF.

Species diversity of entomofauna is given in the diagram below.

Three (3) species of insects listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Qazaqstan (dated 2006) were revealed within the KOGCF.

Emperor dragonfly (Anax imperator Leach)	Bolivaria brachyptera Pall.	Scoliid wasps (Scolia hirta)

One of the species not listed in the Qazaqstan Red Data Book, — Iphiclides podalirius L. butterfly is characterised as depopulating species.