IQ007
Gara Mountain and Garagu


Country/territory: Iraq

IBA criteria met: A1, A3 (2014)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 10,447 hectares (104.47 km2)

Nature Iraq
IBA conservation status
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2014 not assessed very high very low
For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here


Site description (2014 baseline)
The site is located in the Zagros mountain range, where the geology is siltstone and sandstone, and the soil type is sandy clay. About 60% of the area near the streams was unvegetate

Key biodiversity
Additional Important Bird Observations: A total of 60 species was observed during the surveys. In addition to those in the table four Irano-Turanian and one Eurasian Steppe and Desert biome-restricted species were breeding. Other Important Fauna: Data were collected only in 2010. Significant mammals reported by locals at the site were Syrian Brown Bear Ursus arctos syriacus. Significant reptile found at the site was Anatolian Lizard Apathya cappadocica urmiana. A significant amphibian found at the site was the globally Vulnerable Azerbaijan Newt Neurergus crocatus. No fish samples were collected. Additional Plant & Habitat Information: This site contains a good population of Pistacia eurycarpa, and Crataegus azarolus, which are economically and culturally important.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Gara Mountain and Garagu (Iraq). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/gara-mountain-and-garagu-iba-iraq on 24/12/2024.