Current view: Text account
Site description (1994 baseline):
Site location and context
The Geno Protected Area encompasses Kuh-i Geno (2,372 m), an isolated mountain on the coastal plain of the Persian Gulf c.25 km north-north-west of Bandar Abbas. A road winds up the south side of the mountain to a radio and weather station at the rocky summit. Principal habitats are: stony outwash plains with little vegetation (e.g.
Acacia flava) except in gullies (150-500 m); rugged boulder-strewn slopes with patches of open
Amygdalus and
Pistacia woodland (500-2,000 m); and cliffs, crags and summit ridges with mixed
Juniperus,
Amygdalus and
Pistacia woodland and a ground cover of
Artemisia shrubs (above c.2,000 m). On the lower slopes there are
Populus groves, orchards and irrigated fields around settlements by perennial springs.
See box for key species. The avifauna is typical of the arid mountains of south-east Iran, with a number of Indo-Malayan species. Other notable breeding species are
Francolinus pondicerianus,
Hirundo obsoleta,
Anthus similis,
Sylvia hortensis,
Turdoides caudatus,
Lanius isabellinus and
L. vittatus.
Phoenicurus erythronotus is a common winter visitor. At least 42 species have been recorded in the reserve.
Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: Capra hircus aegagrus (rare) and Ovis ammon (rare).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The entire mountain (81,230 ha) was established as Geno National Park in 1972. A large portion was excised in the 1980s, and the remaining 27,500 ha downgraded to Protected Area. Some 49,000 ha of the original National Park were designated a Biosphere Reserve in 1976. There is no information on any threats.
Data-sheet compiled by Dr D. A. Scott, reviewed by Dept of Environment.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Geno (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/geno-iba-iran-islamic-republic-of on 23/11/2024.
