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Introduction
1. The status and causes of decline of faunal diversity in the Uzbekistan
The biological and landscape diversity in Uzbekistan is one of our national treasures. Thousands of years of evolution and cultural and historic traditions of many generations of indigenous peoples have bequeathed it to us. We all share the responsibility for passing this heritage to our descendants as a diverse and sustainable system.
In the past decades, the natural diversity of Uzbekistan has been significantly impoverished. This is, first and foremost, connected with the central planning system in the former USSR, which carried out large agricultural and industrial projects without a real analysis of the impact on the natural and social environments in the regions. To make matters worse, our republic was assigned the role of an exporter of cheap agricultural and geological raw materials. All these gave rise to the unfolding the processes, which had negative impacts on the ecological situation in Uzbekistan.
The shift of agriculture to the monocultures of cotton and excessive irrigation in vastly developed and fragile desert areas have brought about the ecological catastrophe of the Aral Sea, significant secondary salinization of lands in southern, central and north-western regions, transformation of historically developed aquatic systems, formation of the man-made waste-water reservoirs, and contamination of environments with highly toxic defoliants and pesticides. These factors contributed to the destruction of unique arid biological communities of the Ferghana desert, the tugai forests along riverbeds in plains and deltas of the Amudarya and other rivers. The impact of such processes on the sanitary-hygienic and parasitological situation in Uzbekistan, as well as on the climatic changes in the region, has been evaluated.
Intensified extraction and exportation of natural gas under the Soviet rule coupled with insufficient stock of modern equipment resulted in biological degradation of vulnerable ecosystems on the Ustyurt Plateau and south-west Kyzylkum. Contamination of the air and soil with the exhaust of chemical industries of Chirchik-Angren mining complex has reached dangerous levels for mountain ecosystems and the human health. The states of Central Asia, which make up a single biogeographic region, share a common responsibility for the conservation of their natural treasures. Political and social changes connected with the independence of these former soviet republics, open the way for opportunities for decision-making in the area of the conservation of landscape and biological diversity, further sustainable development and ecological safety.
The particular geographical position of Uzbekistan at a junction of several biogeographic provinces within Central Asia has determined the significant richness of its animal world. At the same time, the biodiversity of Uzbekistan reflects the exceptional diversity of natural conditions. Vast plains occupied by different types of deserts, mountain grass-lands (steppes), forests and alpine meadows, gallery poplar forests along riverbeds, wetlands and water-reservoirs, and oases represent typical ecosystems with unique faunal complexes.
The fauna of Uzbekistan has a unique history and complex genetic relations. A significant role belongs to Turan and Turkestan endemic and autochthon species. Additionally, in Uzbekistan there are groups of animals that have migrated here from other regions, including Central Asian deserts and mountains, grasslands of Eurasia and from Mediterranean and Indo-China. Part of the fauna, especially wetland ones, include introduced and occasional settlers from the Far East, the Transcaucasus, Europe, North America and other regions. On the whole, the present fauna of vertebrate animals of Uzbekistan includes 677 species. Of these, 108 are mammalian species; 432 are birds; 58 are reptiles; 2 are amphibians and 77 are fishes. It is estimated that there are 15,000 species of invertebrates as well (Annex 2).
During the last decades, as a result of intensive economical development, many species of wild animals in Uzbekistan have been subject to a considerable anthropogenic pressure. This has led to a decrease in the range and number of many species and total extinction of others. The greatest threats pass to large mammals and birds that are of practical or commercial value. Endemic and locally distributed species with narrow ranges are also under the threat of extinction due to a habitat degradation resulting from human development. Species such as the Caspian Tiger, Asiatic Cheetah, Turkmen Kulan (Wild-Ass), and the Aral Trout have completely extinct from Uzbekistan. Other species such as the North Persian Leopard, Striped Hyena, Great Bustard, Harae Amudarya Shovelnose Sturgeon, Small Amudarya Shovelnose, Syr-darya Shovelnose Sturgeon, Ship Sturgeon (Aral Sea stock) are near the extinction. The third group of animals such as Ustyurt and Bukhara Urials, Markhor, Snow Leo-pard, Caracal, Centralasian Otter, White headed Duck, Mute Swan?, Marbled Teal, Houbara Bustard, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Khentau Toad Agama, Strauch's Toad Agama, Sand Racerunner, Aral Barber, Pike Asp, and several mollusks and insect species are endangered and vulnerable. Finally, a number of animal species have not reached critical levels yet, but a steady decline in their numbers has been observed.
Intensive irrigation and agriculture underlies land use in Uzbekistan. Irrigation has dramatically changed the ecological situation in many regions, rendering the survival of many desert animals impossible under the new ecological conditions. For example, in the last decades in Uzbekistan, the Golodnaya, Karshi, and Surkhan-Sherabad steppes, the central part of Ferghana valley, the foothills of the West Tien-Shan and West Pamir-Alay mountain systems, have been developed for agriculture. This has lead to a decrease in habitats for Goitered (Persian) Gazelle, Houbara Bustard, Pin-tailed Sand grouse and other animal species. Changes in the valleys of great plain rivers also led to a decline of gallery poplar (tugai) forests that were cut or degraded as a result of decreases in water-flow. Owing to these changes and to direct threats from human activities, the ranges of Bukhara Deer, a local endemic pheasant subspecies and other inhabitants of river forests have shrunk.
As a result of extensive hydrological construction, salinization and drop of the level of the Aral Sea, the native ichthyofauna became extinct, and several species of mollusks and crustaceans are close to extinction. Likewise regulation of the great rivers water-flow, appearance of new water-reservoirs, wide development of irrigation networks, industrial pollution of water-areas, mountain-mining and exploitation of upper reaches of rivers, and the influence of introduced species of fishes, have all produced a negative effect on the existence of many species of the original ichthyo- and malacofauna.
Owing to changes in ecological conditions in the Aral Sea region, the wetlands in the deltas of the Amudarya River have lost their richest avian diversity. The breeding habitats of Mute Swan, Dalmatian and Great White Pelicans, Pygmy Cormorant and other threatened bird species have significantly declined.
Transformation of mountain ecosystems as a result of human activity, live-stock overgrazing, cutting of trees and bushes, and the development of mountain-mining industry have led to the soil erosion, and the overpressure of recreation predetermined the destruction of habitats for many invertebrate species.
It is clear that direct threats of extinction are posed on many wild animal species and their habitats if special legislative and practical measures aimed at the protection are not taken. At the same time, it is known that any animal species are a genetically unique phenomenon of nature, which occupies its own place in the biological community.
In the last years, many serious actions for the conservation of biological diversity have been taken in Uzbekistan. Further development of these actions should ensure the protection and restoration of rare and threatened animal species. However, it is necessary to implement the action plans for the protection of separate animal species and ecosystems. An ecological network consisting of six mountain nature reserves (Gissar, Zaamin, Kitab, Nurata, Surkhan and Chatkal) and three desert-tugai nature reserves (Kyzylkum, Badai-Tugai and Zarafshan), two mountain national parks (Zaamin, Ugam-Chatkal), nine reservations (Arnasai, Dengizkul, Karakir, Karakul, Karnabchul, Koshrabad, Saiga-chiy, Sarmysh, Sudochie) and two nature monuments (Vardanzi, Yazyavan) contribute to an integrated protection and sustainable use of the wild life resources of Uzbekistan. The status of a strictly protected territory was given to the Republican Ecocentre "Djeiran", the only of its kind to deal with breeding of rare animal species with the aim of their conservation and reintroduction
Many animal species included in the Red Data Book have been conserved within the system of protected areas in Uzbekistan. These include the Bukhara Deer, Markhor, Severtzov's Argali, Menzbier's Marmot, Tien-Shan Brown Bear, Turkestan Lynx, large birds of prey, and many threatened insects.
Now, there is hope for restoring many threatened species. This includes captive breeding of rare animal species in special nurseries or centers where animals live in the natural conditions. In particular, National Center "Djeiran" for captive breeding of rare desert animal species included in national Red Data Book and IUCN Red List was established for the restoration of declined populations of Goitered Gazelle. Now this center located in Bukhara Region provides the work for restoration of Goitered Gazelle, Turkmen Kulan (Wild Ass), Houbara Bustard, and Przewalskij's Horse. In addition, special nurseries established by the State Agency of Biological Inspection of the State Committee for Nature Protection of Uzbekistan Republic have been created in Tashkent for captive breeding of the Saker Falcon and Houbara Bustard in order to restore their declining populations in the wildlife.

2. Legislative base for the Red Listing process
During the years of independence in Uzbekistan legislation concerning democratization of society and environmental protection has become more pronounced, and as a result, the international cooperation is expanding, and the awareness and concern of the society about ecological issues are growing. A network of non-governmental environmental organizations is expanding and growing stronger from year to year. These organizations actively cooperate with governmental nature conserving agencies in the sphere of wildlife conservation and formation of the ecological awareness of the population. Of great importance was the adoption of laws "On Nature Protection" in 1992, "On Strictly Protected Natural Territories" in 1993, "On Protection and Use of Fauna" in 1997, as well as resolutions from Oliy Majlis "On Strengthening of Protection of Valuable and Vanishing Plant and Animal Species and Regulation of Their Use" passed in 1993 and from Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On Measures on Strengthening of Protection of Wild Animals and Plants and Regulation of Their Use" passed in 1993, and "On Regulation of Import and Export of Birds of Prey in the Republic of Uzbekistan" passed in 1996, and others.
Hunting and fishery are performed in accordance with the above-mentioned laws, as well as according to the provision "On Hunting and Conducting of Hunting and Fisheries on the Territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan" which came into effect by the resolution of Cabinet of Ministers of 1991 and "Rules of Hunting and Fisheries on the Territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan" which came into effect in 1997 and approved of by the orders of State Committee for Nature Protection.
Evaluation of biological diversity in Uzbekistan has been conducted through establishment and conducting of the State Inventory of wild animals of Uzbekistan Republic, which is regulated by the "Statement on order of establishment and conducting of unite system of State Inventories in Republic of Uzbekistan", approved by Cabinet of Ministers of Republic of Uzbekistan (No. 255 of July 17, 1996), and also by the special "Statement on monitoring of State Inventory of wild animals of Republic of Uzbekistan" approval by Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan Republic (No. 343 of September 5, 2000).
By signing the "Convention on the Biological Diversity (CBD)" in 1995, Uzbekistan declared its responsibility for the conservation of national biological resources before the international community. A further step in this direction was the signing of "Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora" (CITES) in 1997, "Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Animals" (Bonn Convention - CMS) in 1998 and adhesion to the "Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat" (Ramsar Convention) in 2001. Within the scope of the Bonn convention were signed the international agreements on the conservation of rare and threatened bird species, namely, the "Memorandum of understanding concerning conservation measures for the Slender-billed Curlew (1994), the Siberian Crane and for the Afro-Asiatic Migratory Waterfowls (1996). In addition, Uzbekistan takes part in the preparation of new international agreements on the protection of fragile species (Houbara Bustard, falcons and others).
To make their contribution to the improvement of environment and the conservation of biological resources, State Committee for Nature Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Uzbek Academy of Sciences together with the other agencies, developed a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. This document was approved by Resolution of Cabinet of Ministers (No. 139 of April 1, 1998) and published as a separate book in Uzbek, Russian and English.
The red listing process is an element of this Strategy and another stage of action aimed at the improvement of biological diversity in this state, and it will form the basis for the legal protection of biological resources. Being of great nation-wide importance, this document will require the adherence by Uzbekistan to obligations assumed after acceding to international conventions and agreements for protection of animal species and their habitats.
The Red Data Book presents a documented illustration of the process of animal species extinction, and serves as a basis for action plans for their conservation. Its role consists of the attraction of public attention to the problem of protection of national fauna. It is addressed to state and non-governmental organizations, scientific institutes and the gene-ral public community.
The order of composition and publication of the Red Data Book was regulated by the resolution No. 109 of March 9, 1992 of Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The Uzbek Academy of Sciences took responsibility of the implementation of the Red Data Book.

3. Red listing process as an assessment of animal diversity decline
Books about extinct and vanishing animals of the world have been published since 1945. Responsibility for renewal of global Red Data Books and Red Lists of threatened animals belongs to International Union of Conservation Nature and Natural Recourses (IUCN) founded in 1948. Because of the initiative of this organization enormous work on the composition and analyses of lists of threatened animals has been achieved. Since 1966, the Species Survival Commission of IUCN (SSC/IUCN), in co-operation with other international and national nature conservation agencies, has been publishing periodical issues of International Red Data Book dedicated to different taxonomic groups of animals of the world or regional faunas (Fishes, Amphibians and Reptiles, Birds, Mammals of America and Australasia, Invertebrates, Swallowtail Butterflies and others). More complete information on threatened animal species and taxonomic groups has been published since 1986 in special series of books under the general title: "SSC/IUCN Action Plans for the Conservation of Biological Diversity" ("Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan"). Up to date, about 40 such books (Antelopes, Wild Sheep and Goats, Wild Cats, Otters, Pheasants, Cranes, Swallowtail Butterflies, Dragonflies and others) have been published. Additional issues (1-19) have been published since 1989 in series of "Occasional Papers of the SSC/IUCN on the Biological Conservation" (Rodents, Turtles, Sharks, Mollusks, Blue Butterflies). All mentioned above issues have presented the additional data for the IUCN Red Data Books and Lists.
Publications of the IUCN in 1963 (Animals and plants threatened with extinction), IUCN Red Lists of Threatened Animals), in 1988, 1990, 1993, 1996 and the 2003 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species are significant events for many reasons. The IUCN Red List is a periodical renewed global catalogue of species, subspecies and populations assigned to different categories of threat. An analysis of the impoverishment processes occurring in the world fauna is cited in the 2003 IUCN Red List. This shows that during the last four centuries, at least, 74 mammal species, 129 birds, 21 reptiles, 7 amphibians, 81 fishes, 291 mollusks, 8 crustaceans, and 72 insects have gone extinct. Besides, 33 animal species are also extinct from the wild life and are only conserved in captivity. Rates of wild species extinction have dramatically grown since the end of the last century and still continue to grow. Currently 113 mammal species, 1192 birds, 293 reptiles, 157 amphibians, 742 fishes, 939 mollusks, 409 crustaceans, 10 spiders, 557 insects and about 20 other invertebrate animals are threatened by extinction or declines in range.
Publication of the first issues of the IUCN Red Data Book produced a powerful incentive for creation of national and regional Red Data Books and Lists. Currently, such issues are being published in many states of Europe and Central Asia, Turkey, the USA, Brazil, Southern Africa, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand and others.
In 1983, the Red Data Book of Uzbek SSR, which included 63 species of vertebrate animals, was published. The Red Data Book is a permanent publication, which, by regulation, must be reviewed at least once every 5 years.
During this time the status of species often changes - some of them can be restored in numbers as a result of special conservation measures; others can decline to levels of a higher degree of threat. To date, the Institute of Zoology of Uzbek Academy of Sciences and Uzbek Zoological Society, a member of IUCN, have collected information to evaluate the present status of many animal species in Uzbekistan. In the current Red Data Book of Uzbekistan included are 23 taxa (24 species with subspecies) of mammals, 48 (51 with subspecies) birds, 16 reptiles, 17 (18 with subspecies) fishes, 3 annelids, 14 (15 with subspecies) mollusks and 61 (62 with subspecies) arthropods.
Some species of mammals and birds included at past in the Red Data Book of Uzbek SSR are not listed in presented edition. Some of them presently have high stable populations within the republic (Marbled Polecat, Desert Sparrow), others are recognized as an case migrants or vagrants (Bewick's Swan, Giant Bat, Dohle Tien-Shan Argali); or their presence in Uzbekistan fauna has not been confirmed (Manul Cat). The list of unthreatened animals of Uzbekistan included in 2003 IUCN Red List is presented in the Annex 1.
4. The application of the national system of Red Data Book Categories of extinction risk
The national system of Red List categories is based on the current version (3.1) of the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (2001), using the quantitative criteria for the evaluation of species extinction risk in the wild (Annex 3), and therefore it secure the more objective results than classifications which used early. In this edition, the figural and abbreviation designations of categories applied that allowed to integrate the former national assessments into international databases.
The definition of categories is based on the scientific data on the species main vital parameters (number, range, quality of habitat, etc.) obtained as a result of survey. Ideally, the relationship between such parameters and critical level of survival values should determine the risk of extinction (Fig. 1). However, such critical values are often unknown. As a consequence, the definition of categories more often proceeds through formalized system of the criteria of assessment of the extinction risk. State of the Red Data Book categories in the general system of species assessment has shown on the figure 1, and their structure has on the figure 2.
National system of the species (subspecies) assessment on their extinction risk in wildlife includes the following categories.
The Extinct (0) species could be defined as Extinct in the country - regionally Extinct (EX) or Extinct in the Wild of the country - regionally Extinct in the Wild (EW). A species is Extinct in the country when there is no doubt that the last individual has died or disappeared by any circumstances. Part of such species can be globally Extinct (EX). A species is Extinct in the Wild of the country when it is known only to survive in cultivation, in captivity or as a naturalized population well outside the past range. Some part of such species can be also globally Extinct in the Wild (EW).
Endangered (1) species could be assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) or Endangered (EN). А species is Critically Endangered when its vital parameters reached the critical levels (or might reach them in the immediate future with the highest probability) and it is therefore considered to be facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. А species is Endangered when its vital parameters are close to the critical levels (or might be close to them in the near future with a high probability) and it is therefore considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild (Annex 3).
Vulnerable (2) species could be assessed as Vulnerable: Declining (VU:D = VU excluding criteria D of IUCN) when their vital parameters decline or fluctuate widely and rapidly, and also as Vulnerable: Naturally Rare (VU:R) =VU D, E criteria of IUCN), if their vital parameters are restricted. А species is Vulnerable when its vital parameters are not so far from the critical levels (or might be not so far to them in the uncertain future with a medium probability) and it is therefore considered to be facing a medium risk of extinction in the wild (Annex 3).
Situation of potential risk of extinction of the species defined by Near Threatened (3) category. А species is Near Threatened when its vital parameters are relatively far from the critical levels now, but might approach them in near or uncertain future with some probability and it is therefore considered to be facing a potential risk of extinction in the wild. The species of this category are close to Vulnerable species and their real conservation status is equal to them. In particular, such species as those recently threatened, but now restored numbers and range to the stable state as well as species depending on conservation actions, could be considered within this category.
Data Deficient (4) category including species indeterminated in status is not a category of threat. Listing of species in this category indicates that more information is required and acknowledges the possibility that future research will show that threatened classification is appropriate.
А species is Data Deficient when there is inadequate information to make а direct, or indirect, assessment of its risk of extinction based on its vital parameters state.
During categorization of species next principles were used. At the national (regional) level all wild species are subject to assessment against the criteria, which are: (i) permanently or temporarily distributed within a natural range; (ii) adaptable introduced species breeding in the wild at least any 10 years. The wild species that are not subject to assessment against the criteria are (i) non-adaptable introduced species; (ii) casual migrants (including casual nomadic species) with single finds during a long-term observation, which migration routs normally do not over-pass across the region (and therefore it is not a natural range for it). Species endemic to the country or severely isolated within the country will be assessed globally. Species being within the country as a part of inter-regional isolated population (metapopulation) will have the category of this inter-regional population. Nationally breeding and migrating groups of individuals could be assessed separately. Each species should be evaluated against all criteria; meeting any one of the criteria qualifies the species for listing at that level. When a species meets criterion for several levels of threat, it should be assigned the highest such category. When the data of direct observations are not available, methods involving estimation, inference and projection are emphasized as being acceptable throughout. Species which are close to meeting the criteria for Vulnerable (VU) category should be included in the Near Threatened (NT) category. If assessing the status of a species is difficult due to an absence of adequate data but it is considered likely to be suitable for listing, then such species can be included in the category Data Deficient (DD).
IUCN recommend defining species, which are not included by different reasons in the national Red Data Book as:
- Least Concern (LC) - species has been evaluated against the criteria but does not meet any one of them and does not qualify as Near Threatened;
- Not Applicable (NA) - species should not be assessed at national level;
- Not Evaluated (NE) - species has not yet evaluated against the criteria.
For the definition of categories for some species (when it was available) there was used RAMASтм Red List ("Threatened Species Classification Under Uncertainty; Version 2, 2001") recommended by Species Survival Commission of IUCN.
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A big team of authors took part in the preparation of the present edition, mainly specialists from the Institute of Zoology of Uzbek Academy of Sciences. Some essays were compiled by specialists from other organizations: State Biological Inspection of the of State Committee for Nature Protection, National (Tashkent) and Samarkand Universities, Samarkand Museum of Regional Studies, Center of prophylactic of quarantine and dangerous infections of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biology of Kyrgyz National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Zoology and Animal Gene Pool of Kazakh Ministry of Education and Sciences. Besides members of Uzbekistan Zoological Society, volunteers from other scientific and ecological NGO-s take a part in the work on composition of the Red Data Book of Uzbekistan.
IIn this edition the illustrations of V.P. Kazenas, A.V-A. Kreuzberg, I.M. Mirabdullaev, N.N. Kondakov, A.N. Komarov were used.
The publication of this edition there preceded by a wide discussion among local and foreign specialists and environmental NGO-s.
The Editorial board thanks all those who assist in the preparation of this manuscript by advice and valuable remarks.

Given list of toxins in second volume of the Red Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan "Animals" is authorized by the order of State Committee for Nature Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan from December 18, 2001, № 83.