Current view: Text account
Site description (2014 baseline):
Site location and context
This is the highest peak in Sulaimani Governorate, reaching 2613 m. The preliminary delineated area includes the mountain ridge and most of the Mergapan valley to the northeast, encompassing the valleys near the villages of Homer Qawm and Shadala and a small gorge between the villages of Shadala and Kani Shuk. Peramagroon valley (which includes the small village of Zewe) lies within a wide bowl on its southeastern side below the highest peak on the mountain. Major settlements around the mountain include the town of Peramagroon and the villages of Kani Shuk, Sardasht, and Shadala.
An area above Zewe, from which a seasonal spring issues, is a popular picnicking site as are many areas along Chami Mergapan stream and the springs above Kani Shuk. This stream runs to the northwest through the Mergapan valley and bisects Peramagroon at its northern extent in a dramatic gorge; it becomes the Tabin stream that flows through the Chami Razan KBA site and eventually joins the Lesser Zab river.
Additional Important Bird Observations: During the surveys 131 species were observed. In addition to those listed in the table, the Endangered Saker Falcon Falco cherrug was observed in the winter of 2012. Also the following Near Threatened species were recorded but in sub IBA-threshold numbers: European Roller Coracias garrulus (breeding) and Semi-collared Flycatcher Ficedula semitorquata (passage); the site also held breeding populations of two Sahara-Sindian biome-restricted species but this did not trigger inclusion under criterion A3. Eastern Cinereous Bunting Emberiza semenowi listed in the table above is Near Threatened.
Other Important Fauna: Mammal surveys conducted in 2009 and 2010 found considerable number of Persian Squirrels Sciurus anomalus. This is a Least Concern species, but their population trend is decreasing and a Nature Iraq interview survey in 2010 found that a large number were hunted at this site and transported to other parts of the country for sale as pets. A summer and winter survey in 2011 documented the presense of Wild Goats on Peramagroon. According to local reports, Persian Leopards Panthera pardus saxicolor (Endangered) occurred historically but are thought to no longer be present. One significant reptiles observation was the Urmia Rock Lizard Apathya cappadocia urmiana.
Fish: Fish exist in Chami Mergapan but have not been assessed. Portions of this stream currently go dry in summer and historical information would be needed to determine if this has always been the case or if development in the area has led to decreased water resources overall.
Additional Plant & Habitat Information: Peramagroon contains a good population of pistachios, Pistacia eurycarpa and P. khinjuk, which are economically and culturally important. Gundelia tournefortii and Rumex ribes, which are economically important as a traditional food, are found at the site as well as a good population of Aegilops crassa, and A. umbellulata, Bromus diandrus, Hordeum bulbosum, Poa bulbosa, and Vitis vinifera, which are important as genetic resources.
Peramagroon Mountain is a botanically rich site and contains mountain riverine forests, oak woodlands and thorn-cushion vegetation. There are also extensive cliff habitats. The site is part of the Zagros Range, where the geology consists of sedimentary limestone and the soil is sandy clay. There is agriculture on the lower slopes (primarily grapes) and grazing throughout the area, though this is now rare on the higher slopes. Most of the mountain is free of mines but mines are reported on the top and in some valleys at the northern extent of the mountain ridge. Zewe and other villages were subject to chemical attacks in the past.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
As expected, areas of high human use, such as the valleys and lower slopes, are more impacted, but evidence of human impacts can also be seen at higher elevations, including garbage in camping areas on the peak. A major road was completed in 2010 connecting the city of Sulaimani to the Mergapan valley. This has also increased land clearance and residential, commercial and tourism development throughout the valley, which are significant threats to Peramagroon. Though urban development has reached areas around the mountain urban planning lags far behind with no visible management or control of solid and liquid wastes and other habitat impacts related to these developments. For example, high threats from human disturbance and transport corridors have also resulted. More recently another road was being built up to the ridge top on the northwest side of the mountain not far from Kani Shuk. The purpose of this road is not clear and it is uncertain if it will be completed. As with other tourist destinations in Iraq, a great deal of garbage is left in the area because there appear to be few if any waste management facilities offered to the public. Most solid waste is dumped off convenient hillsides and later burned (including plastics and other hazardous materials). While there is no energy production or mining at Peramagroon currently, oil surveys have been conducted within and around the KBA site, so oil exploration and development may affect the site in the future. This constitutes a high threat to the site.
Hunting on the mountain is considered a very high threat. Large mammals such as Wild Goat appear to have low populations due to hunting pressure. Expansion and intensification of agriculture, although only classified as medium threats, are still significant. There are a high number of farms in the area and the use of agricultural chemicals such as pesticides has been seen in the fields, many of which are used for grape cultivation. Sediment run-off and direct livestock access to Chami Mergapan are likely affecting water quality. Grazing throughout the site should also receive closer scrutiny. While the environmental conditions improve with altitude, the area around the peak of Peramagroon is affected by the collection of Rhume Rheum ribes, an edible plant that grows naturally in the area.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Peramagroon Mountain (Iraq). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/peramagroon-mountain-iba-iraq on 25/11/2024.
