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Site description (2014 baseline):
Site location and context
This site is located at the Iraq-Iran border, which divides the Shatt Al-Arab River between Iraq (western half) and Iran (eastern) and is considered part of the original IBA040 & IBA042 both described by Evans (1994). The border is only political and no physical barriers divide the river. This site extends from Sayhan (north) to Ras Al-Beesha (south). It includes marshes along the Shatt Al-Arab that are affected by tides and saltwater of the Gulf.
The geology of the area is gravels, sands, silts and alluvium, mainly sands. During the 1980s prior to the Iraq/Iran war this was an important region for date palm production, but the trees have since been destroyed
Additional Important Bird Observations: During the surveys, 52 bird species were observed. In addition to those listed in the table above, Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga and Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus (both Vulnerable) were found in winter as well as flocks of Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata (Near Threatened). The site also held four Sahara-Sindian breeding species but these did not trigger inclusion under A3 criterion. The endemic race of Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis iraquensis also occurs and probably breeds.
Other Important Fauna: Data were collected from 2007 to 2008. Golden Jackal Canis aureus was observed, as were Wild Boar Sus scrofa.
Fish: Data were collected from 2005 to 2007 and also in 2009, during which 36 species were found. Significant freshwater species found at this site, according to Coad (2010) were: Acanthopagrus cf. arabicus, Carasobarbus luteus, Carassius auratus, Cyprinus carpio, Liza abu, L. klunzingeri, L. subviridis, Luciobarbus xanthopterus, Tenualosa ilisha, Thryssa hamiltonii, Tor grypus, and Silurus triostegus.
The following, primarily marine species, were also found: Ablennes hians, Acanthopagrus berda, Argyrosomus aeneus, Bothus pantherinus, Chirocentrus dorab, Cynoglossus arel, Eleutheronemate tradactylum, Epinephelus tauvina, Ilisha elongata, Johnius belangerii, Mugil cephalus, Lutjanus rivulatus, Nemipterus bleekeri, Otolithes ruber, Pampus argenteus, Platycephalus indicus, Pseudorhombus arsius, Sarda orientalis, Sciaena dussumieri, Scomberomorous commerson (a Near Threatened species), S. guttatus, Siganus canaliculatus, and Sillago sihama.
The habitats at the site are salt pioneer swards and marsh vegetation with both reed beds and rooted submerged vegetation, with portions (approx. 30%) unvegetated.
To the north of this site, the Karun River enters from Iran, providing freshwater to the Shatt Al Arab. Ras Al-Beeshais located along the coast in the southernmost part of Iraq near the end of the Shatt Al-Arab. To the west of Ras Al-Beesha, there are drainagechannels and mudflats, but in 2007 dredging work began and by the winter 2009 survey much of the previously inundated area was dry or drying (the depth of the drainage channels increased and no water overflowed from them to flood the surrounding areas). As a result, during the winter survey (2009), there was little water in the tidal wetlands to the west of Ras-Al-Beesha and some of the former wetland had dried out with negative impacts on fish and wildlife populations. Locals at the site indicate that this is being done for development and investment projects.
Ras Al-Beesha is covered with thick and inaccessible reedbeds, 2-3 m high or more in some areas. Some new embankments and roads have been constructed, including paving the new network of roads, a considerable improvement over the former dirt roads. A number of people hunting birds were found within the reedbeds, and there is some low-scale grazing in the site. There were many crabs, mudskippers (called locally Abu-Shlamboo) and small fish in the mudflats and channels in the tidal area. Two sub-sites were visited in the survey.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
This site represents an important habitat for coastal birdlife and important spawning ground and nursery for many migratory fish but is impacted by different threats. Residential and commercial development and natural system modification are assessed as very high threats. The former is represented by urban and rural development activities in towns and cities along Shatt Al-Arab River such as Fao and Seeba on the Iraqi side and Abadan on the Iranian side. The most challenging threat to this area is the Iraqi government’s plan to build a seaport covering a large area of the coastal zone of Iraq (including the southern part of this site). A related threat is the fishing port and ships berthing in Fao city. Natural system modification is represented by the dredging of the area west of Ras Al-Beesha, which noticeably affected bird populations due to the drying of some mudflats and the recent management of the freshwater sources in both Iranian and Iraqi sides. The site was heavily impacted when the Karun River was closed for temporary periods by the Iranian government, and when the Iraqi government reduced the freshwater coming to the Shatt Al-Arab from the Tigris and Euphrates.
High impact threats are caused by widespread pollution from oil refineries and shipping. In 2011 Iran closed the Karun River, which led to pollution of the area by waste from the Abadan refinery. Another high threat is road construction especially for border police activities, where the new network of roads has disfigured the natural habitat in the Fao wetlands and turned many scattered ponds and marshes and even reedbeds into dry areas. Hunting of birds and animals and extensive fishing in the Shatt Al-Arab and northern part of the Gulf are also high threats, as is human disturbance represented by the picnic activities at Seeba, ship movements on the Shatt Al-Arab and road traffic along the river. Energy production threats are also high and include the Iraqi government’s plans to construct two power plants and oil export pipelines in this area.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Fao (Iraq). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/fao-iba-iraq on 23/11/2024.
