Current view: Text account
Site description (1999 baseline):
Site location and context
It is located in the western northern side of Jerico city and far from it about 20km. Al Oja spring region is a wetland region and, it is also a protected and agricultural grassland region. In the eastern side it contains a part from the Jordan Valley. This region belong the Arabic deserts climate and the semi tropical regulation, vegetables planted in this region in a large amounts and the citrus fruits. The most of people who live in this area work in agriculture, a lot of Bedouin live in this area some them are resident, the other emigrated to other regions in the West Bank.
This area is featured by the existence of the springs that exist from the rocks directly to the western area of Al-Oja, from the western side there are some wells and springs called Samia springs, it forms as another source for water beside the Jordan Valley form the irrigation of agriculture in this region. The region is opened for all the people to visit, and there is a natural way in the region reach to the protected area, there is also a rough way reach to Samia springs from Al-Tiabha/Ramallah.
The Eagle is considered as a resident and emigrated bird, the Lesser Kestrel that is founded in the mountains areas that are in scope of view on the Dead Sea. The Night Heron, is started to be considered as a resident birds, which is breed in the region, the Griffon Vulture passes the area in the winter. The Egyptian Vulture is a resident bird and it breeds in small amount in the mountainous areas, it is a short lived bird in the summer. The Chukar is a registered bird and live in Al-Oja region (the number of this bird is not known currently). The Falcons is also a resident bird and it breeds in this area, in addition to the tens of resident and emigrated species and that are important in Al-Oja spring region.
Non-bird biodiversity: It is famous by the Rocky Hyrax, Gazella, the hystrix, the Fox, the hyeana and the Wolf. There are also some fishes species and crustacea.
A total of 77 plant species belonging to 28 families and it is expected that 200 plant species can exist along the wadi.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Military training: this region is one of regions that the Israeli soldiers reside in, in order to be trained on the use of the heavy weapons, which destruct the wildlife in this region.
The unjust grazing in this region.
The garbage: the visitors and the inhabitants throw the garbage during there visit to the region, which pollute the region and threat the wildlife in.
The wrong use of the lands and water.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
The investment: encouraging the Palestinian Society to invest the natural wealth on the right ways with the protection of the natural resources and components.
Transferring the natural regions to a park for the visits and comfort especially in the winter.
Training the people in the this region to manage the protection areas, which includes a large distance of the mountains in this region.
To consider the region as a watching birds region, and give human the knowledge about the importance of this sites for the watching of birds.
To insert the regulated grazing concepts at which the original trees are planted, with considering the planting of the original trees that exist in the region itself, and to prevent the inhabitant from using this trees in a partially or totally in the five coming years.
To make an environmental survey for the wildlife and to identify the conditions in the region.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ein Al-Oja (Palestine). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ein-al-oja-iba-palestine on 23/11/2024.
