Data Zone
Country/territory: Jordan
IBA criteria met: B2, B3 (2000)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 17,200 hectares (172.00 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2013 | not assessed | medium | low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (1994 baseline)
An extensive 'wilderness' area of desert sand-dunes, gravel outwash plains and mudflats, c.160 km long by up to 25 km wide (widest between Jabal Fidan and Umm Muthla). There is some open bushland of Acacia tortilis, A. raddiana and Ziziphus; Tamarix and Phragmites occur locally in the lowest areas. Main land-use is nomadic pastoralism, with a minor but increasing amount of irrigated cultivation. Large areas are military zones.
Key biodiversity
See box for key species. Eremalauda dunni breeds in large numbers after good rains. Neophron percnopterus, Gyps fulvus, Onychognathus tristramii and Carpodacus synoicus breed in the hills bordering the wadi, adjoining this site.
Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: Canis lupus (V), Felis margarita (rare), Caracal caracal (rare) and Gazella dorcas (V). Reptiles: Varanus griseus (rare).
Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by Ali Sutari (per Adnan Budieri).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Wadi Araba (Jordan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/wadi-araba-iba-jordan on 24/12/2024.