Data Zone
Country/territory: Iraq
IBA criteria met: A1, A3 (2014)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 887 ha
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2014 | not assessed | very high | negligible |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2014 baseline)
This is a mountainous area in the Zagros range located close to the Iranian border, dominated by rocky slopes and wooded valleys. The geology here is basic igneous rocks, radiolarian chert, siliceous and calcareous shale, and metamorphic schist and limestone of unknown age, and the soil type is sandy clay
Key biodiversity
Additional Important Bird Observations: During the survey period, 67 species were recorded. In addition to those listed in the table above, European Roller Coracias garrulus (Near Threatened) was present in the breeding season.
Other Important Fauna: Two locals, who were interviewed separately, stated that a local hunter killed a large cat in 2002, which would most likely have been a Persian Leopard Panthera pardus saxicolor (Endangered). Hunting may be rather restricted in the region overall due to the presence of minefields. The most significant amphibian found during the surveys was the Kurdistan Newt Neurergus microspilotus (Critically Endangered). No fish data were collected due to high water flows.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ahmed Awa (Iraq). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ahmed-awa-iba-iraq on 23/11/2024.