IL015
Western Negev


Country/territory: Israel

IBA criteria met: A1, A4iv, B1i, B1iv, B2 (1994)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 90,000 ha

Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel
IBA conservation status
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2013 not assessed high negligible
For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here


Site description (1994 baseline)
A mainly desert area extending as far as Be'er Sheva, Ofakim and Nir Oz in the north and to Mash'abim Sands (1,300 ha), Shunra Sands (2,400 ha), Agur Sands (30°53'N 34°26'E, 24,800 ha) and the Nahal Be'erotayim area (c.5,000 ha, close to Nizzana and the Egyptian border) in the south. The region includes low rocky hills, dry riverbeds, steppe, dunes and scrub, and there is some agriculture, mainly in the Ze'elim and Agur Sands area.

Key biodiversity
Other breeders include Burhinus oedicnemus, Cursorius cursor, four species of sandgrouse and Eremophila bilopha. In winter the area supports notable numbers of Circus aeruginosus (50), Aquila clanga (21), Grus grus, Vanellus vanellus and Pterocles alchata (8,000).

Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: Meriones sacramenti (endemic) and Gazella gazella (V). Reptiles: Testudo kleinmanni (V). Flora: Allium papillare, Garhadiolus angulosus.

Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by S. Blitzblau, reviewed by R. Frumkin.

Attributes
Raptors MOU - IBA listed under Table 3 of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Western Negev. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/western-negev-iba-israel on 19/03/2024.