Data Zone
Country/territory: Jordan
IBA criteria met: B2 (2000)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 4,800 ha
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2013 | not assessed | medium | negligible |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (1994 baseline)
A steep-sided valley running along the Jordan-Syria border. There are remnants of Pinus woodland on the slopes, and lush reedbeds Phragmites and oleander Nerium thickets along the Yarmuk river, which is the least polluted of Jordan's main rivers. There is a small, spring-fed pool at Birket al Rais. The riverine area is currently a military zone; the main human use of the river is as a water supply to irrigate farmland in the Jordan Valley; local activities include cultivation, fishing, forestry, reed-cutting and mushroom collection.
Key biodiversity
See box for key species. Other likely breeding species include Halcyon smyrnensis, Anthus similis, Cercomela melanura, Acrocephalus stentoreus, Cisticola juncidis and Nectarinia osea.
Non-bird biodiversity: Fish: Tilapia gallilae (endemic).
Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by Ali Sutari (per Adnan Budieri).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Wadi Yarmuk (Jordan). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/wadi-yarmuk-iba-jordan on 23/11/2024.