Data Zone
Country/territory: Iraq
IBA criteria met: A1 (2014)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 3,540 hectares (35.40 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2014 | not assessed | high | very low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2014 baseline)
This is a mountainous area with a narrow, winding gorge at its southern end (Gali Zanta); a broad upper valley in the center holding several villages; and above this the Garbeesh Area at the northern edge of the site. The higher ridge of Pires Mountain runs roughly northwest to southeast.
Key biodiversity
Additional Important Bird Observations: During the surveys, 65 species were recorded. The site also held three Irano-Turanian, three Mediterranean and one Eurasian Steppe and Desert biome-restricted breeding species but these did not trigger inclusion under criterion A3. Eastern Cinereous Bunting Emberiza semenowi and European Roller Coracias garrulus, both Near Threatened species, were recorded during the breeding season.
Other Important fauna: No data were collected except for fish, except in the year 2008 for the stream flowing in Gali Zanta only, when three significant species were observed: Alburnus mossulensis, Carassius auratus and Silurus triostegus.
Additional Plant & Habitat Information: This site contains a good population of Crataegus azarolus Pistacia eurycarpa, and P. khinjuk, which are economically and culturally important.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Gali Zanta and Garbeesh (Iraq). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/gali-zanta-and-garbeesh-iba-iraq on 27/12/2024.