Parvar Protected Area (8095)
Iran, Islamic Republic of, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Parvar Protected Area
Central coordinates: Latitude: 35.9500, Longitude: 53.5833
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1800 to 3888
Area of KBA (km2): 783.10135
Protected area coverage (%): 12.50
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A portion of the east-central Alborz Mountains c.35 km north of Semnan, spanning the divide from semi-arid steppe at c.1,800 m on the southern slopes to the upper levels of the humid Caspian forest in the north, peaking at 3,888 m. A deep, rain-shadow valley runs east-west through the centre of the reserve, with spectacular cliffs and scree slopes and some of the finest Juniperus forest in the Alborz. Other habitats include humid and dry high alpine zones, and rolling semi-arid Artemisia steppe in the south. Land ownership is public.
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: See box for key species. The reserve contains a very good variety of alpine and Juniperus forest species, as well as Caspian forest and montane steppic species. It is one of the few known localities for Mycerobas carnipes in Iran. Other notable species include Melanocorypha bimaculata, Phoenicurus erythronotus, S. hortensis, Phylloscopus trochiloides nitidus, Serinus pusillus, Rhodopechys mongolica and Emberiza buchanani. At least 101 species have been recorded in the reserve. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: Canis lupus (V), Ursus arctos (rare), Panthera pardus (rare), Capra hircus aegagrus (rare) and Ovis ammon (rare).
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Forest | 45 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 5 | |
| Grassland | 45 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Parts of the area were first protected as the Parvar Reserve, established in 1962. A Protected Region of 37,937 ha was established in 1965, re-classified as a Protected Area and enlarged to 59,840 ha in the early 1970s. No threats are known.
Additional information
References: Firouz et al. (1970), Scott (1976b).