Data Zone
Country/territory: Iran, Islamic Republic of
IBA criteria met: A1, B2 (1994)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 56 hectares (0.56 km2)
Site description (1994 baseline)
The Dasht-e Naz Wildlife Refuge, c.25 km north-north-east of Sari on the coastal plain of the South Caspian, protects an 'island' of dense scrub-forest of Quercus (dominant), Alnus, Parrotia and Crataegus, with an intermingling of large trees and surrounded by cultivation. This is the last remnant of native lowland forest on the plains of Mazandaran. Land ownership is public.
Key biodiversity
See box for key species. The resident forest bird fauna is impoverished, because of the small size and isolation of the reserve, but a number of woodland species occur in large numbers on passage, including some raptors and Phylloscopus trochiloides nitidus (up to 50 in autumn). Large concentrations of Columba oenas (several thousands) and C. palumbus occur in winter, along with high densities of Scolopax rusticola. Haliaeetus albicilla is regular in winter and Phasianus colchicus is present. At least 92 species have been recorded in the reserve.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by Dr D. A. Scott, reviewed by Dept of Environment.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Dasht-e Naz Wildlife Refuge (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/dasht-e-naz-wildlife-refuge-iba-iran-islamic-republic-of on 25/12/2024.