KW007
Al-Batin Park


Country/territory: Kuwait

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

Area: 57,500 hectares (575.00 km2)

Kuwait Environment Protection Society
IBA conservation status
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2013 not assessed low not assessed
For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here


Site description (1994 baseline)
The area is part of a flat, desert plateau of hard-packed gravelly sand with numerous playas, at 240 m. Its northern side is bordered by Wadi Al-Batin, where the land falls away some 45 m and is characterized by shallow, rocky gullies. The plateau is dominated by Haloxylon and, in spring and early summer, by Stipa grass. In rocky gullies Zilla is common, and many annuals flourish including Diplotaxis species. Traditionally the area has been used for grzing, hunting and recreational camping; the main economic value of the land probably lies in its underground water reserves.

Key biodiversity
See box for key species. Until overgrazing severely damaged the vegetation in the early 1980s, a representative breeding bird community occurred, comprising Cursorius cursor, Bubo ascalaphus, Athene noctua, Eremophila bilopha, Alaemon alaudipes, Ammomanes deserti, Ammomanes cincturus, Melanocorypha bimaculata and Galerida cristata. Proper management could see a return of these species.

Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by Prof. C. W. T. Pilcher.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Al-Batin Park (Kuwait). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/al-batin-park-iba-kuwait on 25/12/2024.