Abbas-abad dam (8076)
Iran, Islamic Republic of, Middle East

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 1994

National site name: Abbas-abad dam

Central coordinates: Latitude: 38.3833, Longitude: 48.8333

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): -20 to -20

Area of KBA (km²): 1.34546

KBA classification: Regional

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: A small reservoir (used for irrigation) in an area of deciduous woodland on the narrow coastal plain of the Caspian Sea, c.7 km south of Astara. The dam lies at the foot of the forested coastal ranges, west of the Astara to Bandar Anzali highway. In late winter and spring parts of the surrounding woodland are flooded, while at low water level in late summer some mudflats are exposed. There is some emergent marsh vegetation, numerous tall dead trees and an adjacent area of swampy woodland.

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: See box for key species. The swampy woodland and dead trees in the lake support a large breeding colony of Phalacrocorax carbo plus much smaller numbers of four species of herons and egrets. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

Habitats

Land use: water management

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Wetlands(Inland)	5
Forest	5
Artificial - Aquatic	90

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: No conservation measures are known to have been proposed. Much of the surrounding forest has been cleared for pasture and cultivation (mainly fruit and vegetables).

Additional information