Data Zone
Country/territory: Syria
Subnational region(s): Hama
IBA Justification: B2, B3 (1994)
Area: 24,200 hectares (242.00 km2)
BirdLife Partner(s): The Syrian Society for the Conservation of Wildlife
| Conservation status of the Important Bird Area (IBA) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2014 | not assessed | high | very low |
Site description (1994 baseline)
A stony, semi-desert plain, c.120 km east of Hamah. Vegetation includes sparse Pistacia trees and shrub-steppe with Salsola, Atriplex and Artemisia. There is said to be a north-south trending depression at 35°22'N 38°00'E which floods in some winters (extent of water up to c.1,000 ha); although this could not be found on maps, there is an area of sabkhah basins (totalling c.5,000 ha) centred on 35°40'N 37°30'E. There are many small settlements and wells, and cultivation is probably extensive.
Key biodiversity
See box for key species. Other breeding species include Pterocles alchata. Anser albifrons is a winter visitor (1,000) and passage migrant (1,500), and at least c.500 ducks have also been noted in winter.
Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: Canis lupus (V). There is a gazelle Gazella captive-breeding and release project.
Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by Dr Ibrahim Hanna and Dr Amer Majid Agha (translated by S. Zaiane).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Wadi al-Azib (Syria). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/wadi-al-azib-iba-syria on 05/01/2025.