Data Zone
Country/territory: Iraq
IBA criteria met: A1, A2, A3, A4i, A4ii, A4iii (2014)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 136,326 hectares (1,363.26 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2014 | not assessed | very high | very low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site summary
Evans (1994) described the Hammar Marshes (IBA039) as an area of wetlands about 3,500 km2 in size with the largest open water bodies in the lower Euphrates including a shallow, eutrophic lake approximately 60 km long by up to 20 km wide. The Euphrates River forms its border to the north and the Shatt Al-Arab on the east, to the south and west are desert regions. However, the historical Hammar marsh has been bisected by the West Qurna and North Rumaila oilfields and is now split into two main parts: East Hammar (IQ077) and West Hammar. Both lie on the south side of the Euphrates River. The area is now very different due to intensive canals, ditches, embankments, and roads, especially around the edges of the site, as well as considerable agricultural work inside it
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: West Hammar (Iraq). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/west-hammar-iba-iraq on 23/12/2024.