Data Zone
Country/territory: Saudi Arabia
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i, B1i, B2, B3 (1994)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 3,000 ha
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2013 | not assessed | low | low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (1994 baseline)
Fairly flat, sandy/gravelly desert fringe at 1,450 m on the edge of the north-east Asir foothills, c.40 km south-east of Taif. There are a few gneiss inselbergs and dry wadis. The site is a fenced captive breeding centre, and the previously overgrazed vegetation is rapidly recovering to grassland and scrub bushland. Wadis just outside the boundary fence have many Acacia iraqensis trees and one has been dammed with some water usually present. Large semi-natural enclosures contain ungulates or are ungrazed.
Key biodiversity
See box for key species. Large numbers of Chlidonias leucopterus have occurred at the dam on migration (seasonal total 26,000; see box).
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by Dr Stephen F. Newton.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: National Wildlife Research Center and environs, Taif (Saudi Arabia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/national-wildlife-research-center-and-environs-taif-iba-saudi-arabia on 23/11/2024.