Data Zone
The site was identified as important in 2014 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 List1 | Season | Year(s) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala | EN | winter | 2005 | 38 individuals | A1 |
| Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris | NT | winter | 2005-2009 | 180-1,300 individuals | A1, A4i |
| Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris | NT | resident | 2005-2010 | 150 breeding pairs | A1, A4i |
| Basra Reed-warbler Acrocephalus griseldis | EN | breeding | 2005-2010 | 500 breeding pairs | A1, A2 |
| Iraq Babbler Argya altirostris | LC | resident | 2005-2010 | 800 breeding pairs | A2 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | winter | 2005-2010 | min 35,000 individuals | A4iii |
1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2014) may differ.
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2014. The most recent assessment (2013) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2013 | not assessed | very high | medium |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | unset | unknown | |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | whole area/population (>90%) | very rapid to severe deterioration | very high |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected areas | Management plan | Other action | Result |
| Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species | Not assessed | medium |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation | % overlap with IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Hawizeh Marsh (Haur Al-Hawizeh) | Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance | 84 |
| 2016 | The Ahwar of Southern Iraq: Refuge of Biodiversity and the Relict Landscape of the Mesopotamian Cities | World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) | 29 |
| Habitat1 | Habitat detail | % of IBA |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (inland) | major (>10) | |
| Desert | minor (<10) |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| unknown | - |
| military | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Hawizeh (Iraq). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/hawizeh-iba-iraq on 23/11/2024.