Current view: Text account
Site description (1994 baseline):
Site location and context
The site lies at c.1,500 m in a broad intermontane basin in the north-west Zagros Mountains, c.20-30 km north-west of Kermanshah, and comprises a small area of permanent freshwater pools and marshes fed by a group of large springs (Hashelan Marsh, 400 ha) and the adjacent flat cultivated plains (c.10,000 ha) which extend to the region of Doh Tappeh c.10 km to the south. The site is bordered to north, east and west by mountains, and is contiguous with the densely populated plains around Kermanshah. The principal area for bustards comprises c.5,000 ha of wheat cultivation, fallow land and rough pasture between the Ab-e-Razavar and Ghara-Su rivers. There are several small villages in the area, and high-tension power lines cross the southern edge. The pools have abundant submerged and floating vegetation, and the marshes are dominated by sedges and rushes. Land ownership is public.
See box for key species. Hashelan Marsh supports small breeding populations of
Ardea purpurea and
Aythya nyroca, and is of some importance for wintering waterfowl (notably
A. nyroca).
Ciconia ciconia is a common summer visitor.
Otis tarda was a summer visitor in the 1970s; 5-10 females were thought to nest.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
There is a considerable amount of duck hunting at Hashelan Marsh. The plains are densely populated and disturbance is high. A reserve encompassing the wetlands and main bustard area was proposed in the 1970s, but was never implemented. This area is currently under study 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: Hashelan marsh and Doh Tappeh plains (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/hashelan-marsh-and-doh-tappeh-plains-iba-iran-islamic-republic-of on 23/12/2024.
