Current view: Text account
Site description (1994 baseline):
Site location and context
Hill country in the Jerash-Ajlun mountains between 500 and 900 m with some steep slopes, dominated by a dense Mediterranean woodland of evergreen
Quercus and
Pistacia, with an understorey of
Arbutus,
Juniperus,
Crataegus,
Prunus,
Rhamnus and
Ceratonia. The reserve is part of the largest remaining tract of undisturbed oak woodland in the country, and is closely surrounded by villages and farmland; there are scattered patches of cultivation in the area (grapes, olives, wheat, barley).
See box for key species. A representative assemblage of woodland species characteristic of the hills of the Mediterranean north-west. Other breeding species include
Dendrocopos syriacus and
Parus caeruleus (probably; one record of 8+, November).
Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: re-introduction of Capreolus capreolus is ongoing, and is planned for Dama mesopotamica (E). Flora: re-introduction of Iris nigricans (rare) is planned.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The reserve was established in 1988, and now has a warden and has been completely fenced. Fires due to negligence or recreation are a critical threat. Illegal tree-cutting and overgrazing are local threats. Formerly, encroachment by cultivation and heavy grazing of the woodland understorey by livestock were major problems, and many villagers hunted birds in the woodland (especially
Alectoris chukar and
Streptopelia turtur), but these practices have now been stopped or very much reduced, apart from hunting of
Streptopelia turtur.
Information compiled by J. al-Joundi & A. Budieri.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ajloun (Jordan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ajloun-iba-jordan on 23/11/2024.
