Kiamaki Wildlife Refuge (8064)
Iran, Islamic Republic of, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Kiamaki Wildlife Refuge
Central coordinates: Latitude: 38.6667, Longitude: 46.0000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1500 to 3347
Area of KBA (km2): 1059.86297
Protected area coverage (%): 88.95
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A small fresh to brackish lake and marshes set at 820 m in an amphitheatre of rugged lava hills on the south side of the Aras valley in extreme north-west Iran, 115 km north of Khoy near the border with Armenia. The lake is fed by small springs and local run-off, and drains eastwards into the Aras river c.5 km away. The small western portion of the lake retains water all summer, but the main eastern section dries out in late summer, exposing extensive mudflats. The lake is generally frozen and snow-covered in mid-winter. There are extensive reedbeds Phragmites around the lake's western margins, and a large area of brackish Salicornia flats with scattered clumps of Phragmites and Tamarix on the plains to the east. The hills to the north and south support shrub-steppe vegetation dominated by Artemisia. Livestock are grazed in the area and there is probably some waterfowl hunting. Land ownership is public.
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. 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: See box for key species. The site is primarily important for its breeding waterfowl which include many Himantopus himantopus and smaller numbers of five other species of shorebirds. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research (100%) | rangeland/pastureland
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 95 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: No conservation measures have been taken. Some changes in the area have had adverse effects on the vegetation and avifauna, and further survey is required.
Additional information
References: Scott (1976a).
Contributors: Data-sheet compiled by Dr D. A. Scott, reviewed by Dept of Environment.