Current view: Text account
Site description (2010 baseline):
Site location and context
Located at the northern extremity of the Mount Lebanon range, The Upper Mountains of Akkar-Donnieh IBA is made up of four adjoining sites: Qammouaa, Fnaideq, Mechmech and Wadi Jouhanam
There is a healthy breeding population of Syrian Serins and several other globally-threatened species have been recorded here on migration. Thirteen breeding Biome-restricted Species breed here: Tawny Owl Strix aluco, Masked Shrike, Sombre Tit Poecile lugubris, Upcher’s Warbler,Sardinian Warbler, Western Rock Nuthatch, White-throated Robin, Black-eared Wheatear,Finsch’s Wheatear Oenanthe finschii, Pale Rockfinch, Syrian Serin, Crimson-winged Finch Rhodopechys sanquineus and Black-headed Bunting as well as very healthy populations of many commoner species. Although there is apparently little soaring bird migration in the spring, the site is more important in the autumn when large flocks of White Stork, White Pelican, Levant Sparrowhawk and Common Crane have been seen passing over.
It is mostly mountainous with a broad range of habitats. Fir Abies cilicica, Cedar and Juniper Juniperus spp forests dominate the higher elevations giving way to Turkey Oak Quercus cerris and other oak species, with Calabrian Pine Pinus brutia found at the lower altitudes. There are also cultivated lands interspersed with mixed woodland, scrub and open grassland. At the highest altitudes, a sub-alpine community is found, while permanent fast flowing streams run through Wadi Jouhanam.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Although there is currently no formal protection the site is part of a proposed new national park and various awareness-raising campaigns have been carried out to try to encourage interest in environmental protection among the local populace, who are mostly very poor. As well as the ubiquitous hunting, problems include deforestation and high levels of grazing which together have led to soil erosion in some parts of the area.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
Also, the proposed IBA is located in North Lebanon and falls in the heart of a projected 220 km² National Park acknowledged for its rich biodiversity and the old vegetation varieties it harbours. This area is listed at the top of priority sites designated for protection in the global framework of the Lebanese National Master Plan for Land Use Management (2004), the National Biodiversity Country Study in Lebanon (UNDP and MoA, 1996), the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (1998) and the National Action Plan to combat desertification (2003). The organisation MADA– a Lebanese conservation NGO – is already carrying out a major project entitled “Setting the path towards the establishment of a national Park in North Lebanon and the promotion and support of ecotourism” working towards the realization of the national park and the conservation of the site with the local community.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Upper Mountains of Akkar-Donnieh (Lebanon). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/upper-mountains-of-akkar-donnieh-iba-lebanon on 23/11/2024.
