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Site description (1999 baseline):

It is a protectoral area and, there are Bedouin in this area come from Arab Al Kina'n and Al Rashida family. They from area to another asking form water and grass, some of them stay at this area by all the year, some become citizens in this area and farmers. This area extents from south east of Bethlehem to the regions of the south of Hebron at which it reaches to the mount that surrounding the Dead Sea , there are some vallies interposed this area like Ra'as Al Hemar that is considered as one of the most beautiful area and it is a part of Wadi Kretoon / south east of Bethlehem. It has some Byzantium and Roman monasteries that are built in the past era and there are still some of mosaics in some agrologic areas. It can be reached by many ways either by Bethlehem district or from Tquo' village and then pass to Arab Al Asakra, or through Wadi Kretoon region, or from the south side of the Dead Sea region and go up to the high mountain and then to this wonderful area. This area is contact with Ain Gedi region from the southern eastern part region of the West Bank.

The large raptors especially the Egyptian Vulture is one of the birds in this region and this bird stay in this area and it breeds in it. There is also the Griffon Vulture that is found in the western site of Al Fashkha and on the Dead Sea.

Non-bird biodiversity: The most important animals of this are Capra ibex, Gazella, Rocky Hyrax, Fox, Hyeana.

The training of the Israeli soldiers by all the year specially the use of the heavy machines. The illegal grazing for the plant of this area where the plant cover is available. The illegal hunting, this region is considered as an area, which is rich of biodiversity. The irregular tourism that affect on the wild and bird life.

Declining of the negative affects like the militarism training. Prevention of hunting in the region. Regulation of hunting and rehabilitation of the habitat. Encouraging of the environmental tourism and regulate the other tourist activities.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Jerusalem wilderness (Palestine). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/jerusalem-wilderness-iba-palestine on 24/12/2024.