TR139
Southern Euphrates Valley and Birecik Plains


IBA Justification

Year of most recent IBA criteria assessment: 2004

Populations of IBA trigger species
Species Current IUCN Red List Category Season Year(s) of estimate Population at site IBA criteria triggered
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles alchata LC breeding 2000 20-30 breeding pairs B2
Little Swift Apus affinis LC breeding - 150 breeding pairs B2
Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita EN breeding 2002 55 individuals A1, A4i, B1i, B2
Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus LC non-breeding 2001 550 individuals A1, B1i
Pallid Scops-owl Otus brucei LC breeding - 1-5 breeding pairs B2
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis LC breeding - 5-10 breeding pairs B2
Graceful Prinia Prinia gracilis LC breeding - 20 breeding pairs B2
Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus LC breeding - 5-20 breeding pairs B2
Cinereous Bunting Emberiza cineracea NT breeding 2001 50 breeding pairs A1, B2

Note: The current IUCN Red List category may differ from the category that was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment.

For more information about the IBA criteria, please click here


IBA Conservation

IBA conservation status - summary
Year of assessment (most recent) Threat (pressure) Condition (state) Action (response)
2016 medium near favourable low
Was the whole site assessed? yes Condition (state) assessed by habitat
Accuracy of information good

Threats to the site (pressure)
Threat level 1 Threat level 2 Timing Scope Severity Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification annual & perennial non-timber crops - agro-industry farming happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Biological resource use hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - motivation unknown/unrecorded happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Energy production and mining mining and quarrying happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) slow but significant deterioration low
Natural system modifications dams & water management/use - large dams past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting majority/most of area/population (50-90%) very rapid to severe deterioration low

Condition of the site (state), by habitat
Habitat Habitat detail Reference area (ha) Actual area (ha) Habitat quantity (% remaining) Habitat quality (carrying capacity) Result
Desert Semidesert 0 0 moderate (70-90%) good (> 90%) near favourable

Conservation actions taken at the site (response)
Protected-area designation Management planning Other conservation action Result
Little/none of site covered (<10%) A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity low
For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

IBA Protection

Protected area (PA) PA designation PA area (ha) Relationship of PA with IBA Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
Birecik Lake Wetland Other Area 0 protected area contained by site 0
Birecik Firat YHGS Wildlife Development Area 0 unknown 0

Local Conservation Groups

The Local Conservation Groups below are working to support conservation at this IBA.

Name Year formed
Doğa Kültür ve Yaşatma Derneği 2011
For more information on BirdLife's work with Local Conservation Groups, please click here.

Habitats

IUCN Habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Desert Semidesert -
Wetlands (inland) Rivers and streams -
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine -
Artificial/Terrestrial Arable land, Urban parks and gardens -
For further information about the IUCN habitat classification, please click here.

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
energy production and mining -
tourism/recreation -
For further information about the land-use classification, please click here.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Southern Euphrates Valley and Birecik Plains. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/24080 on 03/06/2023.