Current view: Text account
Site description (1994 baseline):
Site location and context
Golestan is situated at the eastern end of the Alborz Mountains between the cities of Gonbad-e Qaboos and Bojnurd, and spans the divide from the humid lowlands of the Caspian region to the semi-arid interior of the central plateau. The principal habitats consist of lowland deciduous forest, lowland secondary scrub and meadows, semi-arid steppe, open
Juniperus woodland and scrub, upland meadows, springs and streams, and cliffs and crags. Mountains in the south-west third of the reserve from the lowest to the highest elevations (380-2,410 m) are covered with largely pristine climax forest. Dominant trees below 1,800 m include
Quercus castanaefolia,
Parrotia,
Carpinus,
Zelkova,
Alnus,
Fraxinus and
Tilia. Higher up,
Quercus macranthera,
Sorbus,
Acer and
Juniperus are common. The humid influence of the Caspian dwindles to the east, with forest giving way to scrub and then lush steppe. This montane steppe is characterized by
Artemisia, spiny vegetation (predominantly
Astragalus,
Acantholimon and
Cousinia), grass, open stands of
Juniperus and copses of
Acer. Inter-tribal conflicts which prevailed prior to 1913 virtually precluded any human habitation-even grazing of stock was risky-and for this reason the site was relatively undisturbed. The Asian highway winds north and east through the reserve and provides easy access. Land ownership is public.
See box for key species. There is a very diverse breeding bird fauna with virtually all the species characteristic of Caspian forest and upper shrub and
Juniperus zones as well as many species characteristic of the upland steppes of north-east Iran. It is one of the few known breeding areas for
Tetrax tetrax and
Dryocopus martius in Iran, and is especially rich in birds of prey. Notable breeding species not listed below include
Hieraaetus pennatus,
H. fasciatus,
Phasianus colchicus,
Melanocorypha bimaculata,
Phoenicurus erythronotus,
Sylvia hortensis,
Phylloscopus trochiloides nitidus,
Ficedula semitorquata,
F. parva,
Lanius isabellinus,
Emberiza buchanani and
E. bruniceps. At least 151 species have been recorded.
Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: the mammal fauna is extremely rich and diverse, including Ovis ammon (rare), Capra hircus aegagrus (rare), Gazella subgutturosa (rare), Lynx lynx (rare), Canis lupus (V) and Ursus arctos (rare). Panthera tigris virgata was last reliably recorded in Iran in this area in about 1963.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Parts of the area were first protected as the Almeh and Ishaki Protected Region, established in 1957. A Wildlife Park of 91,890 ha was established in 1964. The reserve was enlarged to 125,895 ha and designated a National Park in the early 1970s. Some 34,000 ha have since been downgraded to Protected Area, leaving a National Park of 91,895 ha. The area of the original National Park (125,895 ha) was designated a Biosphere Reserve in 1976. No threats are known. The avifauna is to be studied further by the Department of the Environment.
Data-sheet compiled by Dr D. A. Scott, reviewed by Dept of Environment.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Golestan (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/golestan-iba-iran-islamic-republic-of on 23/12/2024.
