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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 1994 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris	NT	resident (1991)	2–5 pairs	B2
Common Crane Grus grus	LC	winter (1991)	2,000–3,000 birds	A4i
White Stork Ciconia ciconia	LC	passage (1991)	20,000 birds	A4i
Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius	CR	winter (1991)	5–10 birds	A1, A4i
A4iv Species group - soaring birds/cranes	n/a	passage (1991)	20,000 birds	A4iv, B1iv

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1994. The most recent assessment (2014) is shown below.

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification	likely in short term (<4 years)	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	likely in short term (<4 years)	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Little/none of area covered (<10%)	No management planning has taken place	Very little or no conservation action taking place	very low

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Artificial/Terrestrial	major (>10)	Arable land; Pasture land; Plantations; Rural gardens; Urban areas
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine	minor (<10)	Ponds; Water-storage areas
Grassland	minor (<10)	Temperate
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks)	minor (<10)
Wetlands (inland)	minor (<10)	Freshwater springs & oases; Geothermal; Permanent freshwater marshes & pools; Permanent rivers, streams & creeks; Seasonal & intermittent freshwater marshes & pools; Seasonal/intermitt salt/brackish/alkali marsh/pool; Seasonal/intermittent/irregular river/stream/creek

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	27
agriculture	major (>10)
rangeland/pastureland	major (>10)
military	major (>10)

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Golan Heights (Syria). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/golan-heights-iba-syria on 23/12/2024.