Hari Rud valley (8010)
Afghanistan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1d
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Hari Rud valley
Central coordinates: Latitude: 34.3500, Longitude: 62.6333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1050 to 1830
Area of KBA (km2): 764.14355
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A 112-km stretch of valley running from Obeh (1,830 m) west to Herat city (1,050 m) in north-west Afghanistan. The valley widens considerably towards Herat and even as far east as Obeh it is c.15 km wide, and comprises barren, desert hills and plains with sparse vegetation and cultivation. Along watercourses stands of Tamarix prevail and there are Populus groves and some apricot orchards.
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.
Additional biodiversity: Other interesting breeding species include Accipiter badius (Herat), Picus squamatus flavirostris (Herat and Obeh), Alauda gulgula, Motacilla citreola and Saxicola caprata. Phasianus colchicus principalis formerly occurred in the valley, mainly to the west of Herat, but is probably extinct in Afghanistan through hunting and habitat destruction. The following are also likely to breed, given their presence 100 km further down the valley by the river and on the plains around Kohsan: Ixobrychus minutus, Buteo rufinus, Porzana porzana, Cursorius cursor, Sterna albifrons, Melanocorypha bimaculata, Calandrella acutirostris, Acrocephalus stentoreus, Hippolais rama and Rhodopechys githaginea. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | hunting | rangeland/pastureland | urban/industrial/transport | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 1 | |
| Desert | 94 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: No conservation measures are known to have been taken. Current threats are not known, but the apparently rapid decline of the global Columba eversmanni population since c.1980 gives rise for concern for the colonies at this site, the current state of which remains completely unknown. Herat is one of the largest cities in Afghanistan thus the pressure on the surrounding semi-desert vegetation by grazing or agricultural improvement, together with the effects of years of war may mean that the C. eversmanni colonies no longer exist.
Additional information
References: Paludan (1959).