• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

Country/territory: Lebanon

IBA criteria met: A4, B3a, B3c (2023)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 54,238 hectares (542.38 km²)

Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon

Site summary
Rashaya District, located in southern Lebanon's Beqaa Governorate, spans 54,238 ha. Situated around 1,350 meters above sea level on Mount Hermon's slopes, it experiences an average annual temperature of 15°C. Rainfall ranges from 650 mm to 750 mm yearly, with most occurring between November and March. The area boasts three distinct vegetation belts: Evergreen Mediterranean Maquis, Xero-Montane Open Forest, and Subalpine Mountain Steppe. Protected Pine forests offer habitat and culinary resources, while grasslands and rocky areas support grazing and hiking trails. Rashaya's economy thrives on traditional activities, including herb harvesting, crop cultivation (cherries, olives, etc.), and goat husbandry for Labneh production.

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Rashaya - Mount Hermon (Lebanon). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/rashaya--mount-hermon-iba-lebanon on 25/12/2024.