Çoruh Valley (Türkiye) IBA | Summary

TR157

Çoruh Valley This is an IBA in Danger!

Current view: Summary

Country/territory: Türkiye
Subnational region(s): Artvin; Erzurum

IBA Justification: B1iv (2004)

Area: 63,765 hectares (637.65 km²)

BirdLife Partner(s): Doga Dernegi

Conservation status of the Important Bird Area (IBA)
Year of assessment (most recent)	State (condition)	Pressure (threat)	Response (action)
2016	very unfavourable	very high	low

Site summary

The Çoruh Vadisi (Valley) comprises the middle and lower raches of the Çoruh River, one of the largest and least disturbed rivers in Anatolia. In Turkey, the river runs for 354 km. much through a vast canyon, as it cuts its way through the Eastern Black Sea mountains. The geology is largely igneous in origin, with extensive exposures of lavas and tuffs. Whilst the surrounding mountains rise to as much as 3000 m. within 15 km. of the river, the valley bottom lies as less than 450 m., dropping toas little as 75 m. at the point where it crosses into Georgia.

Humid Black Sea forests are dominant in the northern region, close to the Black Sea.This region mainly has Fagus orientalis forests. Relict Pinus pinea groups can also be seen in the region. Mediterranean flora is found in the region stretching between Borçka and Yusufeli. This region contains maquis group remains and agricultural fıelds where Mediterranean crops are grown. River bank flora is seen alongside the Çoruh River and mountainous steppes grow on the valley slopes.

Besidesi it is one of the most important migration centre of the world, as well as East Black Sea Mountains. Straits in the area are gateway for thousands of floating predatory birds. Lesser spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina), and Short-toed snake eagle (Circaetus gallicus) are the primary of them. Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) and Starry sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) are the inland water fish species living in the valley classified as Endangered, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

As the principal valley through the mountains, linking the Black Sea coast with the Anatolian hinterland, a series of settlements have developed within the valley. Amongst the most significants are Borçka, Artvin, Yusufeli and İspir on the main river, and Ardanuç, Şavşat and Oltu on associated tributaries.

The flora of the canyon is both exceptionally rich and distinctive. Over 750 taxa have been recorded, with very high representation from families such as Compositae (77 taxa), Leguminosae (70) and Labiatae (65). Of these, 104 nationally rare taxa are thought to occur. A very high proportion of the national rarities are restricted to this single river catchment.

Threats to KBA are dam construction, opening of agricultural fıelds, water pollution related with mining activities, illegal hunting. The site is listed as one for IBAs in Danger in Turkey in 2015 and 2016.

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Çoruh Valley (Türkiye). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/çoruh-valley-iba-türkiye on 14/01/2025.