Data Zone
Country/territory: Iraq
IBA criteria met: A1 (2014)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 3,617 hectares (36.17 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2014 | not assessed | very high | very low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2014 baseline)
The geology of the area is sedimentary and the soil type is sandy clay. Kura Kazhaw Mountain, where there is a spring, is located in the south. A small stream flows through Nalparez District. The villages of Haji Mamand, Gweze Resh, Dolle Pemu, Deremyaneh and Sarkhwar surround the site
Key biodiversity
Additional Important Bird Observations: During the surveys, 53 species were observed. The site held breeding Levant Sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes (Eurasian Steppe and Desert biome-restricted species) as well as two Irano-Turanian and four Mediterranean biome-restricted species but these did not trigger inclusion under criterion A3. Eastern Cinereous Bunting Emberiza semenowi (Near Threatened) was breeding.
Other Important Fauna: Data for mammals were collected in 2010 only. Locals reported the presence of Jungle Cat Felis chaus and recent wolf attacks on livestock. Also, in 2012 there was a report of a leopard kill on Kartoo Mountain near Mame Khelan village approximately 5 km north of Parazan. Direct observations were made of Persian Squirrel Sciurus anomalus, which is a Least Concern species but has a declining population trend overall and is heavily persecuted for the pet trade in Iraq. Fish data were not collected for this site.
Additional Plant & Habitat Information: There is a good population of Anchusa italica, Gundelia tournefortii, Morus alba, and M. nigra, which are important as traditional foods and a vinyard containing Vitis venefira is also present, which is important as a genetic resource.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Parazan (Iraq). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/parazan-iba-iraq on 27/12/2024.