Zuvand upland (188)
Azerbaijan, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1c
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Zuvand yaylağı
Central coordinates: Latitude: 38.8333, Longitude: 48.2500
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 500 to 2500
Area of KBA (km2): 159.12618
Protected area coverage (%): 40.44
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Semi-arid plateaus and mountains near the Iranian border with some broadleaved forests. The area, which has a high population density, was formerly part of the border zone, with all land-uses prohibited, but there is now intensive sheep-grazing and some forestry.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. 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: Among other breeding raptors at this site are Circaetus gallicus, Buteo rufinus, Aquila chrysaetos and Bubo bubo. Alectoris chukar and Perdix perdix also breed, as do passerines such as Phoenicurus erythrogaster, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, Carpospiza brachydactyla and Emberiza buchanani.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 33 | |
| Forest | 33 | |
| Grassland | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats come from grazing and some illegal tree-felling (`Other' threat).