Data Zone
Country/territory: Iraq
IBA criteria met: A2 (2014)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 24,745 ha
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2014 | not assessed | very high | negligible |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2014 baseline)
This area includes the foothills located approximately 12 km southwest of the town of Chamchamal.
The site is located in the Moist Steppe Zone, where the geology consists of sandstones, clay and sandy gravels, and the soil type is sandy clay.
Key biodiversity
Additional Important Bird Observations: A total of 64 bird species were seen during the survey period. Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca (Vulnerable) was observed in winter; the site held breeding populations of two Mediterranean, three Irano-Turanian and three Sahara-Sindian Desert biome-restricted species but these did not trigger inclusion under criterion A3.
Other Important Fauna: There have been reports of Goitered Gazelle Gazella subgutturosa (Vulnerable) being hunted in the area. Not enough data were collected under the rapid assessment.
Fish: This site has a small, shallow stream. Data were collected in 2007 and 2008, and three significant species were observed: Acanthobrama marmaid, Alburnus mossulensis, and Garra rufa.
Additional Plant & Habitat Information: This site contains some plants which are important as genetic resources including Triticum aestivum, Triticum durum, and Hordeum vulgare ssp. Spontaneum
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Chamchamal (Iraq). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/chamchamal-iba-iraq on 23/11/2024.