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Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A characteristically hilly region, with low ridges whose slopes are naturally eroded, and many gorges that accumulate to form valleys or taper off into plains. This site belongs to an area with the driest climate in Georgia; there are steppes and savanna-like landscapes, arid woodlands and semi-deserts, with an abundance of relict and endemic plant species. Vegetation at the site is diverse: relict
Bothriochloa and typical
Stipa steppes predominate, frequently represented by
Paliurus vegetation; there are scattered savanna-like woodlands of
Celtis and xerophytic species of wild
Pyrus; arid woodlands composed of relict and rare species of
Juniperus clothe the slopes of ridges, while semi-deserts are represented by
Artemisia,
Salsola, etc.; riparian forests along the Iori and Alazani rivers include some of the tugai-type, dominated by
Salix and
Populus.
This is an outstanding site for raptors, with at least 25 diurnal raptors and six owls recorded:
Neophron percnopterus (12 pairs in 1998),
Gyps fulvus (39 pairs in 1998),
Accipiter brevipes (occurs on passage),
Aquila nipalensis (passage and winter visitor),
Falco biarmicus (two breeding pairs in 1988),
F. cherrug (occurs in winter, but breeding recently confirmed for one pair and suspected for a second). Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria:
Haliaeetus albicilla (three resident pairs; marked decline),
Circus macrourus (common in winter),
Falco naumanni (uncommon breeder; strong decline),
Tetrax tetrax (passage visitor) and
Otis tarda (formerly a breeder in small numbers, now only a rare passage migrant and winter visitor). This is the only site in Georgia supporting
Francolinus francolinus (common) and also has the country's largest population of
Alectoris chukar. Counts of staging
Anthropoides virgo in 1986 totalled 2,500-3,500 birds and
Grus grus also passes through on migration. Among other breeding species are
Delichon urbica (large cliff colonies),
Cercotrichas galactotes (rare and irregular),
Sitta tephronota,
S. neumayer and
Sturnus roseus (abundant), while
Tichodroma muraria visits the area in winter.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The main threats are overgrazing, unsustainable levels of hunting, and firewood collection. The limits of the site correspond roughly to those of the proposed Iori Protected Area, part of the protected-area system which is now being established in Georgia. A management plan exists for this site.
National Partial
International None12,451 ha of the IBA covered by managed nature reserves (Zakazniks): Chachuna (5,200 ha), Gardabani (3,315 ha), Iori (1,336 ha) and Korugi (2,600 ha). 8,034 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Zapovednik) (Vashlovani, 8,034 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Iori Region (Georgia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/iori-region-iba-georgia on 22/11/2024.
