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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 1994 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
See-see Partridge Ammoperdix griseogularis	LC	resident (1977)	common	A3
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala	EN	breeding (1977)	4 pairs	B2
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala	EN	winter (1987–1992)	17–455 birds	A1, A4i, B1i, B2
Greylag Goose Anser anser	LC	winter (1977–1992)	1,845–5,760 birds	A4i, B1i
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons	LC	winter (1987–1992)	180 birds	A4i, B1i
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea	LC	winter (1977–1992)	3,820–4,180 birds	A4i, B1i
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris	NT	breeding (1976–1977)	200–300 pairs	A1, A4i, B1i, B2
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris	NT	winter (1987–1992)	2,040–5,500 birds	A1, A4i, B1i, B2
Common Pochard Aythya ferina	VU	winter (1970–1977)	20,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca	NT	breeding (1977)	4 pairs	B1i
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca	NT	winter (1970–1977)	150 birds	A1, B1i, B2
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula	LC	winter (1977–1992)	200–2,520 birds	A4i, B1i
Gadwall Mareca strepera	LC	winter (1977–1992)	990–2,200 birds	A4i, B1i
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope	LC	winter (1977–1992)	5,000–5,610 birds	A4i, B1i
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos	LC	winter (1970–1977)	14,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	LC	winter (1970–1977)	25,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Common Teal Anas crecca	LC	winter (1970–1977)	45,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis	LC	winter (1977–1992)	150–330 birds	B1i
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus	LC	breeding (1977)	50–100 pairs	A4i, B1i
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus	LC	passage (1977)	430 birds	A4i, B1i
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus	LC	winter (1970–1977)	300 birds	A4i, B1i
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis	LC	passage (1977)	500 birds	A4i, B1i
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus	LC	passage (1977)	9,800 birds	A4i, B1i
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus	LC	winter (1970–1977)	7,080 birds	A4i, B1i
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra	LC	winter (1977–1992)	24,300–172,500 birds	A4i, B1i
Common Crane Grus grus	LC	winter (1977–1992)	1,000–2,204 birds	A4i, B1i
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia	LC	breeding (1977)	50–400 pairs	A4i, B1i
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus	LC	breeding (1977)	30–100 pairs	B1i
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus	LC	winter (1977–1992)	200–930 birds	B1i
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris	LC	passage (1972)	present	B2
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax	LC	breeding (1977)	100 pairs	B1i
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax	LC	winter (1970–1977)	300 birds	B1i
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides	LC	breeding (1977)	200 pairs	B1i
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea	LC	winter (1970–1977)	255 birds	B1i
Great White Egret Ardea alba	LC	winter (1970–1977)	370 birds	B1i
Little Egret Egretta garzetta	LC	breeding (1977)	100 pairs	B1i
Little Egret Egretta garzetta	LC	winter (1970–1977)	350 birds	B1i
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus	NT	resident (1992)	5–10 pairs	A1
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus	NT	winter (1987–1992)	60–185 birds	A1, A4i, B1i, B2
Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus	LC	winter (1970–1977)	800 birds	A4i, B1i
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	LC	passage (1977)	210 birds	B1i
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	LC	winter (1970–1977)	100 birds	B1i
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus	NT	winter (1970–1977)	4,000 birds	A4i, B1i
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	winter (1970–1977)	900 birds	B1i
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus	LC	winter (1977–1992)	3,400–4,300 birds	A4i, B1i
Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga	VU	winter (1977)	5 birds	B2
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca	VU	winter (1977)	7 birds	B2
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni	LC	breeding (1977)	10–15 pairs	A1, B2
Sombre Tit Poecile lugubris	LC	resident (1977)	frequent	A3
Upcher's Warbler Hippolais languida	LC	breeding (1977)	common	A3, B3
Plain Leaf-warbler Phylloscopus neglectus	LC	breeding (1977)	common	A3
White-throated Robin Irania gutturalis	LC	breeding (1977)	frequent	A3
Hume's Wheatear Oenanthe albonigra	LC	resident (1977)	frequent	A3
Pale Sparrow Carpospiza brachydactyla	LC	breeding (1977)	abundant	A3
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter (1970–1977)	100,000-499,999 birds	A4iii

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1994. The most recent assessment (1994) is shown below.

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Human intrusions and disturbance	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Biological resource use	happe­ning now	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Transportation and service corridors	happe­ning now	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happe­ning now	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Not assessed	Not assessed	Not assessed	not assessed

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1976	Arjan	UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve (UA)	88
1982	Arjan or Ajan and Parishan	Protected Area (V)	88

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Wetlands (inland)	13
Artificial/Terrestrial	major (>10)
Forest	minor (<10)
Grassland	minor (<10)
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks)	minor (<10)
Shrubland	minor (<10)

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	100
fisheries/aquaculture	major (>10)
hunting	minor (<10)

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Arjan Protected Area (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/arjan-protected-area-iba-iran-islamic-republic-of on 23/12/2024.