Current view: Text account
Site description (1994 baseline):
Site location and context
The Kavir region lies near the north-west corner of Iran's vast, arid central basin and between the Dasht-i Kavir (Salt Desert) and Daryacheh Namak (Salt Lake). The centre of the Protected Area is c.110 km south-east of Tehran. A chain of low rocky mountains (rising to 2,015 m at Siah-Kuh) runs through the alluvial plains (700-1,000 m) which form the remainder of this region. During prolonged drought virtually the entire area appears to be barren, shrubs and perennial herbs being confined to wadis or other drainage features. However, winter rains and snow may trigger a profuse growth of grasses and flowering plants which carpet much of the area in spring. Open associations of 'tragacanthic' or other
Astragalus species, together with some spiny
Cousinia and
Artemisia (mostly
A. herb-alba), are prevalent above 1,500 m. At lower elevations,
Artemisia species are the commonest shrubs, while salt-tolerant plants such as
Alhagi,
Salsola,
Haloxylon,
Suaeda,
Zygophyllum and
Seidlitzia dominate in the more saline valley basins. The region is within easy access of Tehran, and is ideally situated for the promotion of eco-tourism. An old caravanserai in the west-central portion of the National Park has been restored as a guest house and visitor centre. Land ownership is public.
See box for key species. The reserve supports the characteristic desert avifauna of Iran's central plateau, and is an important breeding area for
Chlamydotis undulata. It is also one of the best areas in the country for
Pterocles coronatus, with up to 600 gathering to drink at a spring in the centre of the reserve. Other notable breeding species include
Buteo rufinus,
Falco tinnunculus,
Cursorius cursor,
Ammomanes cincturus,
Hirundo obsoleta,
Scotocerca inquieta and
Rhodopechys githaginea.
Rhodopechys mongolica occurs in large flocks in winter, and
Accipiter nisus and
Circus cyaneus also winter.
Aquila nipalensis is regular on passage, and many passerine night-migrants stop over briefly at the small springs in spring and autumn; other passage migrants include
Ciconia ciconia,
Circus aeruginosus,
Coturnix coturnix and
Grus grus. At least 121 species have been recorded in the reserve.
Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: Gazella dorcas fuscifrons (V), Ovis ammon (rare), Capra hircus aegagrus (rare), Caracal caracal (rare), Lynx lynx (rare), Canis lupus (V). Equus hemionus (V) was fairly common in the 1970s, and Acinonyx jubatus (V) was occasionally reported, but these both seem to have disappeared.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The Kavir Protected Region (609,438 ha) was established in 1964 and given National Park status in the early 1970s. The reserve has since been enlarged to 670,000 ha, but the National Park has been reduced to 420,000 ha and the remainder designated as a Protected Area (250,000 ha). The National Park, Protected Area and some adjacent land (totalling 700,000 ha) were designated a Biosphere Reserve in 1976. There is reported to have been a considerable amount of poaching in the reserve since the revolution, and the populations of large mammals are much depleted.
Data-sheet compiled by Dr D. A. Scott, reviewed by Dept of Environment.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kavir region (Iran, Islamic Republic of). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kavir-region-iba-iran-islamic-republic-of on 24/12/2024.
