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Site description (2014 baseline):
Site location and context
This site consists of a valley surrounded by foothills and highlands within the Zagros Range. Many springs are present and the habitats here are mountain forest vegetation with riverine forest and oak woodland vegetation. Vineyards cover most of the mountainsides and hills between Biyara and Awesar and the common cultivated species is Vitis vinifera. There are also a large number of aged walnut, mulberry, and fig trees as well as stands of poplars. The geology is basic igneous rocks, radiolarian chert, siliceous and calcareous shale, and metamorphic schist and limestone of unknown age, and the soil type is sandy clay.
Additional Important Bird Observations: During the survey 67 species were seen. The following were also breeding at the site but in sub-IBA threshold numbers: European Roller Coracias garrulus and Eastern Cinereous Bunting Emberiza semenowi (both Near Threatened); in addition the site held breeding populations of four Irano-Turanian biome-restricted species, but these did not trigger inclusion under criteron A3.
Other Important Fauna: Mammal data were collected in 2007 and 2010 only. According to local reports, Wild Goats Capra aegagrus (Vulnerable) are present in the mountains in the border area. Residents state that the globally Near Threatened Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra is likely present. Grey Wolves Canis lupus were also reported. The Near Eastern fire salamander Salamandra infraimmaculata (Near Threatened) was also observed. No fish surveys were carried out because of the small size of the streams.
Additional Plant & Habitat Information: This site contains pistachio Pistacia eurycarpa as well as Diosphyros kaki, Morus alba, and M. nigra, which are economically and culturally important. Riverine Forest habitat is commonly found alongside mountain valleys in Hawraman, especially between Biyara and Tawela and are dominated by Juglans regia.
In the area close to the town of Tawela much of the land is used for agriculture. Well-digging and newly constructed homes and roads were observed. The site also contains popular tourist areas during spring and summer. The border with Iran is close by and there is a border crossing but smuggling of fuel and other items across the border is also a common practice.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The primary threat comes from residential and commercial development due to extensive tourism that has disturbed the environment. Transportation, hunting, human intrusion and pollution were all assessed as high threats. The local government has recently begun expanding a road to ease access for tourism and border crossing traffic and smuggling also have impacts. The streams near villages and popular picnicking areas are affected by sewage and garbage and the stream near Tawela has also been impacted due to modifications and clearing for irrigation purposes. Ecological conditions are noticeably healthier on the surrounding mountain slopes. This is in part because minefields restricts access to these areas.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Hawraman Area (Iraq). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/hawraman-area-iba-iraq on 23/11/2024.
