Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation 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 List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala | EN | winter (2005) | 38 birds | A1 |
| Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris | NT | winter (2005–2009) | 180–1,300 birds | A1, A4i |
| Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris | NT | resident (2005–2010) | 150 pairs | A1, A4i |
| Basra Reed-warbler Acrocephalus griseldis | EN | breeding (2005–2010) | 500 pairs | A1, A2 |
| Iraq Babbler Argya altirostris | LC | resident (2005–2010) | 800 pairs | A2 |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | winter (2005–2010) | min 35,000 birds | A4iii |
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 of population/area (>90%) | rapid decline (>30% over 3 generations) | very high |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Whole area (>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 (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | The Ahwar of Southern Iraq: Refuge of Biodiversity and the Relict Landscape of the Mesopotamian Cities | World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) (UA) | 29 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| 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 23/12/2024.