IQ071
Sawa Lake and Area


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important in 2014 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):
Species Red List Category Season Year(s) Population estimate at site IBA criteria met
Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris NT winter 2010 140 individuals A1
Asian Houbara Chlamydotis macqueenii VU winter 2010 frequent A1

The current IUCN Red List category (shown above) may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2014).


IBA Conservation

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2014 not assessed very high negligible
Was the whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes unset good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1 Threat level 2 Timing Scope Severity Result
Human intrusions and disturbance recreational activities happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) very rapid to severe deterioration very high

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation Management planning Other conservation action Result
Little/none of site covered (<10%) No management planning has taken place Not assessed negligible
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)
Sawa Lake Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance 20,058 protected area contained by site 0

Habitats

Habitat (IUCN level 1) Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine -
Desert -
Shrubland -
For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
urban/industrial/transport -
hunting -
fisheries/aquaculture -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sawa Lake and Area. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sawa-lake-and-area-iba-iraq on 19/03/2024.