Data Zone
Country/territory: Lebanon
IBA Criteria met: A1, A2, A3 (2008)
For more information about IBA criteria please click here
Area: 20,000 ha
Protection status:
| Most recent IBA monitoring assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | Threat score (pressure) | Condition score (state) | Action score (response) |
| 2007 | low | not assessed | high |
| For more information about IBA monitoring please click here | |||
Site description
The best remaining stand of cedar Cedrus libani forest in Lebanon, in a mountainous, rocky area at 1,750 m, covered in snow between December and March. The forest is relatively open, with much scrub, and about 10% of the area is under cultivation. Currently the area is primarily used for hunting, tourism and recreation, secondarily for forestry, rangeland and wildlife conservation.
Key biodiversity
See box for key species. Other breeding species include Alectoris chukar (if not extinct), Lullula arborea, Eremophila alpestris, Anthus similis, Oenanthe oenanthe, O. hispanica, Sylvia hortensis, Parus lugubris, Pyrrhocorax graculus (possible), Emberiza cia (possible) and E. caesia. Migrants include Ciconia ciconia.
Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: Canis lupus (V), Sciurus anomalus (relict), Mongoose (present at site, highly endangered in other parts of the country. Flora: there are many endemic plants, and Cedars of Lebanon (Cedrus libani)
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2021) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Shouf Cedars Nature Reserve. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 24/01/2021.
