Mar Saba - Wadi Qadron (20516)
Palestinian Authority Territories, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1999
National site name: Mar Saba - Wadi Qadron
Central coordinates: Latitude: 31.7167, Longitude: 35.3500
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 250 to 250
Area of KBA (km2): 13.89246
Protected area coverage (%): 50.23
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: It is an agricultural and grazing region. It is located in the center of Jerusalem wildlife in the southern side of Bethlehem. In this area there is a monastery called Saint Saba monastery, which is locate near Wadi Qadron that starts from Jerusalem and reach the Dead Sea. There is way to this monastery from the southern side and it is called Al Nabi Mousa way (the Jerusalem - Jericho way), and then from Al Sahara region to the southern side of the monastery through the desert and mount way at which a lot of tourist visit daily because of the beauty of this region, there is a main road from Bethlehem and pass by Beit Sahour and Village to the monastery region. The herder and their shepherd live in this region. Wadi Qadron is a lasting stream. The sewage water is currently transferred from Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Beit Sahour, Beit Jala, and the Israeli’s settlements to this stream. This region consists of religious and historical ruins return to the fifth century, specially the remaining of the construction ruins on the top and the center of the mountain, which the animals and birds use it as a shelter during the winter and breeding time.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: There is the Lesser Kestrel, it is registered about ten couples in the monastery region, and it nests in the walls of the monastery, the Sand Partridge, Tristram’s Grackle, Egyptian Vulture, and Palestine Sunbird are considered as resident birds in the monastery region. Non-bird biodiversity: Plants: Anemone. Mammals: Gazelle, Rocky Hyrax, fox, and Hyeana.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | rangeland/pastureland | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | 75 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 | |
| Grassland | 5 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 5 | |
| Shrubland | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Garbage disposal in the monastery region by the persons that live in the villages. Wadi Qadron is full of sewage water that comes from the Israeli’s settlements and some of the Palestinian countries. The hunting. The unjust grazing.