Protected, Rare and Medicinal Plant Species of the Buiratau State National Natural Park (Republic of Kazakhstan)

Abstract

The State National Natural Park (SNNP) "Buiratau" is the youngest. The purpose of our study was an independent botanical and geographical survey of the vegetation cover of the SNNP "Buiratau" and a summary of the work of botanists from Kazakhstan and Russia who worked at different times in the protected area. The results showed that depending on the geographical location (Kazakh upland, steppe zone) of the territory of the SNNP "Buiratau", this natural complex has a very diverse botanical features. In these types of vegetation of this territory, there are both Red Data Book and rare and endemic plants. The real treasure of the park is the black alder and birch forests, the peculiarity of which is that some species (Alnus glutinosa (L) Gaertn, Betula Kirghisorum Sav.-Rysz.) are in the Red Book and are very few in number. A particularly important role in this natural complex is played by economically valuable, especially medicinal, plant species and their resource potential. After analyzing the above, it should be noted that the SNNP "Buiratau" is a unique natural environment which has characteristic endemic and rare plant species. The territory also has 10 species of plants listed in the Red Book and 26 species of rare and endangered species. It also has a peculiarity in economic relations because large resources of economically valuable plant species are concentrated in this territory.