Current view: Text account
Site description (2014 baseline):
Site location and context
This site includes Bradost Mountain and the Bakhma Area to the west. The latter, originally identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA004) by Evans (1994), is downstream of where the Greater Zab and Choman-Rawanduz Rivers meet and was the location of a dam that was partially constructed during the Saddam Regime
The site is located in the Zagros range where the geology is limestone and soil types are clay and sandy clay.
Additional Important Bird Observations: During the surveys 75 species were observed. In addition to those listed in the table, European Roller Coracias garrulous and Eastern Cinereous Bunting Emberiza semenowi (both Near Threatened) were breeding. Five Irano-Turanian and four Mediterranean biome-restricted species were also found breeding.
Other Important Fauna: Mammal data were collected in 2007 and 2010. Golden Jackal Canis aureus were observed. During an interview, survey with the forestry police on Bradost Mountain, the following additional species were reported: Wild Goats Capra aegagrus (Vulnerable), sometimes seen in flocks of 30 individuals down the mountain near the main road; Grey Wolf Canis lupus; Persian Squirrel Sciurus anomalus; Indian Crested Porcupine Hystrix indica; Syrian Brown Bear Ursus arctos syriacus, seen two weeks before the interview, but only present in low numbers; Striped Hyena Hyaena hyaena; and Wild Cat Felis silvestris, which are reported in plentiful numbers, as well as some more common species. No significant reptile observation was made.
Fish: Data were collected in 2007 and 2008 from the Choman-Rawanduz River. Six significant species were found as defined by Coad (2010): Alburnus mossulensis, Cyprinion kais, Garra rufa, Glyptothorax kurdistanicus, and Luciobarbus xanthopterus and Silurus triostegus. Also Mastacembelus mastacembelus and Mystus pelusius were observed for whom the conservation status in Iraq is unknown.
Additional Plant & Habitat Information: This site contains a good population of Pistacia eurycarpa, P. khunjuk and Crataegus azarolus, which are economically and culturally important plants. It also contains a vineyard of Vitis vinifera, which is important as a genetic resource.
The main habitat types are mountain forest vegetation (primarily oak forests) and mountain riverine forest
The overall site consists of deep valleys and high mountain bluffs in a region of limestone characterized by steep areas of semi-natural woodland where oak trees grow in low areas and juniper trees grow on the slopes. The bulk of the delineation area contains the Bradost Mountain sub-area, a large mountain ridge that overlooks the Bakhma from the east. The Lat and Cork Mountains rise to the south, and to the north and northeast are a number of high hills and ridges. Vegetation is often sparse: largely oak-steppe with some occasional tamarisk along the riverbanks and farmed stands of poplar in the village.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Bakhma is relatively distant from large human populations. Although commercial development is still at a low level compared to other sites in Kurdistan (such as in Sulaimania Governorate), current threats include in-stream and riparian gravel mining in many places along the Greater Zab and Choman-Rawanduz Rivers. These threaten fish habitats and cause erosion that can damage infrastructure such as bridges and roads. It is likely that hunting may also be adversely affecting species. Landmines are present on Bradost Mountain and potentially other areas within the delineated site.
The greatest future threat to the site would be completion of the Bakhma Dam. The initial construction, including roads to and from the construction area, already affects the site, but a complete dam would have far-reaching effects both upstream and downstream. These impacts include, but would not be limited to, flooding of many important cultural, recreational, agricultural and environmentally-sensitive areas upstream and eliminating the natural hydrological pulse, sediment transport and available water resources of the river downstream. The future plans for a dam are currently unclear.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bakhma and Bradost Mountain (Iraq). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bakhma-and-bradost-mountain-iba-iraq on 23/11/2024.
