Ordubad area (174)
Azerbaijan, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Ordubad area
Central coordinates: Latitude: 39.1833, Longitude: 45.9333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1000 to 3904
Area of KBA (km2): 468.26141
Protected area coverage (%): 95.96
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The wildest part of Nakhichevan: high mountains of the Zangezur ridge (including the highest peak, Mount Kapydjik, at 3,904 m) with rocky slopes, cliffs, ravines, alpine meadows. There are also low, semi-arid mountains and some areas of semi-desert. Land-uses include grazing (intensive), some agriculture and mining.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard. KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Caucasus Hotspot (2003, updated 2004). Taxonomy, nomenclature and threat category follow the 2002 IUCN Red List.
Additional biodiversity: The alpine and subalpine zones support at least two of the 10 species in Europe that are restricted (when breeding) to the Eurasian high-montane biome. Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aegypius monachus, Aquila heliaca (probably breeds), Falco naumanni. Raptors also breeding at this site include Gypaetus barbatus, Neophron percnopterus and Gyps fulvus. Among breeding passerines are Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, Irania gutturalis and Bucanetes githagineus (B. mongolicus was also locally numerous in 1969-1970).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 33 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 33 | |
| Desert | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats include some poaching, overgrazing and potential damage from the war with Armenia (`Other' threat). The Game Reserve, where only hunting is prohibited, was established primarily for the conservation of Tetraogallus caspius and certain mammals. Virtually unexplored by ornithologists.