Data Zone
Country/territory: Jordan
IBA criteria met: A4i, B1i, B1iv, B2, B3 (1994)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 80,000 ha
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2013 | not assessed | high | low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (1994 baseline)
A flat, open agricultural plain (below sea-level) with crop fields, market gardens and orchards, gently sloping down to the incised Jordan river in the west. The Jordan river is currently saline. There are small areas of grassland, scrub and bare, eroded badlands, comprising less than 10% of the area. Remnants of natural vegetation are Afrotropical in character. Tamarix woodland and Phragmites beds occur along the banks of the Jordan river. This is the main agricultural area in Jordan (mostly irrigated), and population density is relatively high. Livestock grazing, fishponds, hunting, recreation and tourism are secondary land-uses.
Key biodiversity
See box for key species. A major migration route and a notable wetland site. Other possible breeding species include Remiz pendulinus and Rhodopechys obsoleta. During spring passage large numbers of raptors move up the valley before veering eastwards and north-eastwards up tributary wadis, especially Pernis apivorus and Accipiter brevipes (see box), e.g. at Kafrayn and Ash Shuna Janubbiya. Autumn passage migrants include Pelecanus onocrotalus (daily max. 350) and Ciconia nigra (daily max. 11), and the latter is also a winter visitor, as is Eudromias morinellus (daily max. 50).
Non-bird biodiversity: Fish: Tilapia gallileae (endemic).
Acknowledgements
Data-sheets compiled by Ian J. Andrews and Ali Sutari (per Adnan Budieri).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Jordan Valley. Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/jordan-valley-iba-jordan on 01/10/2023.
