Data Zone
Country/territory: Iraq
IBA criteria met: A1 (2014)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 2,411 ha
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2014 | not assessed | high | negligible |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2014 baseline)
The Atrush Area is the central and southern part of the delineation and includes diverse habitats, including a gorge, open land covered by poplar trees, and surrounding foothill woodlands. Bania (Sub-site D3C) is a mountainous area that includes the wooded and rocky valley to the north of the Atrush area. Deze and Balete villages lie near the Bedol stream that flows roughly north-south through the site. Near the center of the delineation (Atrush), where a smaller stream enters from the west, there are some archeological remains in a cliff overlooking the stream.
Key biodiversity
Additional Important Bird Observations: During the survey period, a total of 53 species was seen. European Roller Coracias garrulus (Near Threatened) was breeding though at a level that did not meet IBA thresholds. In addition the site had breeding populations of three Mediterranean and two Irano-Turanian biome-restricted species but these did not trigger inclusion under criterion A3.
Other Important Fauna: No mammal or reptile surveys were conducted but five important fish species were observed during the one fish survey that took place in 2008: Alburnus mossulensis, Leuciscus vorax, Luciobarbus xanthopterus, Carassius auratus, and Garra rufa.
Additional Plant & Habitat Information: Scleria ciliata and Stachus kermanshahensis were recorded for the first time in Iraq at Atrush. This site contains a good population of Pistacia eurycarpa, an economically and culturally important plant; Hordeum bulbosum, which is important as a genetic resource, and Anchusa italica, which is important as a traditional food.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Atrush and Bania Area (Iraq). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/atrush-and-bania-area-iba-iraq on 23/11/2024.