Mangesh (44742)
Iraq, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Mangesh
Central coordinates: Latitude: 37.0500, Longitude: 43.1167
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 850 to 1400
Area of KBA (km2): 22.8749
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This site contains a mountain ridge running east to west, surrounding foothills and the valley below. The main habitat here is mountain forest vegetation with oak woodlands and also some cultivated lands lie nearby. The site is located in the Zagros mountain range, where the geology is siltstone and sandstone, and the soil type is sandy clay. It was previously surveyed under the KBA project as two sub-sites. There is a Christian archaeological site located on the north side of the mountain.
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: During the survey period, 56 species were recorded. In addition, the site held breeding populations of three Irano-Turanian and one Sahara-Sindian Desert biome-restricted species but these did not trigger inclusion under criterion A3. Other Important Fauna: No additional information was collected on terrestrial fauna or fish (there were no major streams in the site). Additional Plant & Habitat Information: This site contain a good population of Crataegus azarolus, which is commercially important, and Hordeum bulbosum, which is important as a genetic resource.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Agriculture and overgrazing (on the north side of the site) and human intrusion (from picnickers on both the north and south sides) are the highest threats at Mangesh. Building of houses and road construction as well as hunting and pollution from picnickers also have a moderate impact on the site. Streams are also being channelized here for irrigation purposes.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |