Current view: Text account
Site description (1994 baseline):
Site location and context
A 55-km stretch of the Dez river, several associated oxbow lakes, and the adjacent marshy plains of Deh Noh and Ahu Dasht (8,000 ha of wetlands), c.35-90 km north of Ahwaz. The river forms a deep channel with steep earth banks. Dense riparian forest (
Tamarix and
Populus euphraticus) up to several hundred metres wide lines the river and surrounds the lakes which also have some
Phragmites beds. The adjacent plains, largely under wheat and other crops, are dotted with shallow marshy depressions and meandering creeks which flood in winter.
See boxes for key species. The wetlands are very important for wintering surface-feeding ducks, geese (including
Anser erythropus),
Pelecanus crispus and
Threskiornis aethiopicus. This stretch of river is the only known haunt of
Anhinga rufa in Iran while the reeds around the oxbow lakes form one of the very few sites in Iran where
Turdoides altirostris is known. The riverine thickets support a typical Mesopotamian bird fauna, with large breeding populations of
Hypocolius ampelinus and
Passer moabiticus, but also several species (e.g.
Columba palumbus,
Turdus merula,
Parus major) more typical of Zagros oak forest. Other notable species include
Eudromias morinellus,
Ceryle rudis,
Halcyon smyrnensis and
Petronia xanthocollis. At least 133 species have been recorded in the area.
Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: a few tens of Dama mesopotamica (E) still survive in the forest along the river; this is the only known truly wild population in the world. Other species include Gazella subgutturosa (rare).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
A Protected Region of 18,812 ha was established in 1960 to protect the dwindling habitat of the deer. Some 3,837 ha of this reserve were re-notified as a Wildlife Park in 1970. The reserve was reduced to 15,873 ha in the early 1970s, and re-notified partly as a Wildlife Refuge (5,240 ha) and partly as a Protected Area (10,633 ha). Parts of the riparian forest have been degraded by the grazing of livestock and cutting for fuel. The cultivated plains are much disturbed by farming and hunting, and the wetlands are reported to have become very polluted in recent years.
Data-sheet compiled by Dr D. A. Scott, reviewed by Dept of Environment.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Dez river marshes and plains (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/dez-river-marshes-and-plains-iba-iran-islamic-republic-of on 22/11/2024.
