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Site description (2016 baseline):
Site location and context
The Tigris River, although under the threat of dam projects to its south and north, is a natural river which is mostly untouched. It includes almost all kinds of riparian habitats. Four important key biodiversity areas exist on the Tigris River. These are the Bismil Plateau, the Tigris Valley, the Küpeli Mountain and the floods of Cizre and Silopi. Although these four areas are continuations which complement each other, they include different species and habitats.
The Tigris River, together with the Euphrates River, establishes one fourth of the surface water resources of Turkey and has a 16 billion meter cube annual flow rate. The water level and flow rate of the river changes according to season and the highest flow rates are seen in March and April.
The KBA includes the part of the Tigris River which is between the Bismil Plateau and the Eruh Mountains. It contains mountain steppes stretching to the south along with a valley.
Because of being in the crossroads of Mediterranean, step, and semi-desert habitats, area hosts many endemic and sensitive species. One of endangered and Turkey's endemic species is
Cicer echinospermum. It is the plant that has highest priority of conservation in KBA. Hasankeyf, which is in the middle of valley, has an importance in terms of historical and archeological heritage as well as breeding predatory birds.
Rocky cliffs (escarpments) in the region host the most crowded populations of predatory birdssuch as Bonelli's eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus), Lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni), Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), and Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus).
Steep slopes are significant breeding grounds for one of the rare bird species called Little swift (Apus affinis); dip and barren slopes called Cinereous bunting (Emberiza cineracea); river bank flora and sandy slopes called Pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis).
Euphrates softshell turtles (Rafetus euphraticus) live only in Euphrates and Tigris starting with southeastern of Turkey. They nest in dunes of Tigris river bank.
Wild goat (Capra aegagrus), use rocks and steep canyons, and Striped hyeana (Hyaena hyaena), use caves and hollows in the bottom of the valley, are the primary mammal species of conservation in KBA.
Due to Tigris Valley's (Dicle Vadisi's) geological structure is locally composed of calcareous rocks, there are many caves through the main stream and it's branches and these caves probably have importance for bat species.
Since most of the natural habitats of the Euphrates River have been destroyed as a result of big dams, the importance of biological diversity in the Tigris River area has increased in terms of its representation. The Tigris Valley is the last remaining example of an untouched river and canyon in the region. The KBA is a river ecosystem mosaic consisting of flood areas changing according to the water levels and flow rates with the seasons, rocky or bushy islands, steep cliffs and wet fields. Rocky and sandy plains are also found in the flood area of the river. Southeasten Anatolian mountain and plateau steppes are seen around the river, while scarce oak forests are found in the mountainous regions.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Planned dam construction, sand and pebble quarries.
Ilısu Dam project is the greatest threat for KBA's biodiversity's existence.
The dam will cause permanent extinction of river bank ecosystem and it's dependent habitats through 170 km length of river line.
Sand and pebble quarries on the river have many destructive effects on many species.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Nature Society is trying to cancel the project of Ilısu Dam either in local or in international area. In the meantime, the society started a petition with Atlas Journal.
Archaeological Site
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Dicle Valley (Türkiye). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/dicle-valley-iba-türkiye on 22/11/2024.
