Huweija marshes (8025)
Iraq, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Huweija marshes
Central coordinates: Latitude: 35.2500, Longitude: 43.8333
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 230 to 230
Area of KBA (km2): 304.85807
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: An area of marshes and lakes c.65 km west-south-west of Kirkuk, along the pipeline road. Wheat is cultivated on the surrounding plains.
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.
Additional biodiversity: A wide selection of ducks, waders and other waterbirds, mostly in small numbers, occurs in winter and on passage. Vanellus indicus and V. leucurus are common breeding species. Non-bird biodiversity: Flora: the general area is very important for harbouring wild relatives of important cereal crop species.
Delineation rationale: 2014-03-11 (BL Secretariat): a site area of 30486 ha was calculated by GIS from the site polygon, then rounded to the nearest 10% (30000 ha).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: No conservation measures are known to have been taken. There is no information on current threats to the site, although it may well have been drained for agriculture. No conservation measures are known to have been proposed.
Additional information
References: Marchant and Macnab (1962).