Current view: Text account
Site description (2014 baseline):
Site location and context
The site is situated c. 60 km to the north of Rutba in northwestern Anbar province. The site is a natural depression in the western desert of Iraq and it surrounded on its southern and eastern parts by elevated rocky ground and cliffs (called Al-Afaeif), which form one of the main landmarks of Al-Ga'ara
Additional Important Bird Observations: During the surveys, a total of 24 species were recorded. In addition the site had breeding populations of six Sahara-Sindian Desert biome-restricted species but these did not trigger inclusion under criterion A3.
Other Important Fauna: Striped Hyaena Hyaena hyaena (Near Threatened) has been reported by locals. Gray Wolf Canis lupus attacks on local animal herds have been reported and considering the desert landscape this suggests the Arabian race arabs. Reptiles observed included Egyptian Spiny-tailed Lizard Uromastyx aegyptia; Blanford's Short-nosed Desert Lizard Mesalina brevirostris, and Arabian Horned Viper Cerastes gasperettii.
During the wet seasons the people of Rutba use part of the area for wheat and sunflower agriculture. Dam construction has been noted in several areas of Al-Ga’ara but the team was not able to obtain any information on these projects.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Very few human activities influence the site due to its remoteness. The village of Al-Ga'ara consists of only six houses. The people of Al-Ga'ara who are mainly Bedouin roaming the western desert of Iraq, cultivate wheat during the wet seasons (in spring), but only on a very small scale. The main impact is the hunting of birds, especially raptors, during the migration and the winter but this isolated site seems not to be effected by humans during the hot, dry seasons. More information is needed to understand and control the impacts of dam construction in this region.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ga'ara (Iraq). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/gaara-iba-iraq on 23/11/2024.
