Data Zone
Country/territory: Iraq
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2 (1994)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 50,000 hectares (500.00 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2013 | not assessed | high | very low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (1994 baseline)
An area of semi-desertic plains, arable land, grassland, temporary inundation and small permanent marshes c.40 km east-north-east of Baghdad. The marshes are fed mainly from the Baquba area to the north and are surrounded by Phragmites and Typha beds. The area is grazed, and adjacent plains are dominated by Alhaja and Acacia. The local human population is very sparse, and the environment is unusually intact.
Key biodiversity
The site is important for wintering waterfowl, and 8,800 ducks and geese and Fulica atra were recorded in January 1975. Other breeding species include Glareola pratincola (14 pairs). Charadrius asiaticus occurs on passage (max. 300). Data shown in box, from Carp (1975a, 1975b) and Scott and Carp (1982), may include some winter counts from the Baghdad area.
Non-bird biodiversity: Flora: the general area is very important for harbouring wild relatives of important cereal crop species.
Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by Dr Hanna Y. Siman.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Attariya Plains (Iraq). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/attariya-plains-iba-iraq on 23/12/2024.