Khosh-Yeilagh (8096)
Iran, Islamic Republic of, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Khosh-Yeilagh
Central coordinates: Latitude: 36.8333, Longitude: 55.5833
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 900 to 2570
Area of KBA (km2): 1549.86987
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The reserve lies east of the main Shahrud to Shahpasand highway, c.70 km north-east of Shahrud, spanning the divide of the eastern Alborz Mountains from the upper limits of the humid Caspian forest in the north to the semi-arid Artemisia steppes of the Central Plateau in the south. Much of the central portion of the reserve consists of high grass plains and tragacanthic steppe between rocky hill ranges. Several springs support luxuriant herbaceous vegetation and some shrubbery. Juniperus forest occurs on some of the higher, south-facing slopes.
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. Spanning Caspian forest, montane steppe and near-desertic steppe, the reserve has a very diverse breeding bird fauna including eight species of lark. Other notable species include Cursorius cursor, Melanocorypha bimaculata, Phoenicurus erythronotus, Sylvia hortensis, S. nana, Rhodopechys mongolica, Emberiza leucocephalos, E. buchanani and E. bruniceps. Phylloscopus trochiloides nitidus is fairly common as a passage migrant. At least 114 species have been recorded in the reserve. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: Canis lupus (V), Ursus arctos (rare), Caracal caracal (rare), Panthera pardus (rare), Gazella subgutturosa (rare), Capra hircus aegagrus (rare) and Ovis ammon (rare). During the 1970s Acinonyx jubatus (V) became fairly common, more frequently observed here than anywhere else in Iran. An attempted re-introduction of Equus hemionus (V) took place in 1973-1974.
Delineation rationale: 2009-11-30 (BL Secretariat): the area of Khoshyeylagh Wildlife Refuge has been decreased from 154,400 ha to 143,146 ha (according to WDPA 2009), but the IBA area has not been correspondingly decreased, pending identification/investigation of the excised portion with respect to its importance for birds.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Grassland | 45 | |
| Forest | 45 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: A Protected Region of 208,937 ha was established in 1963, reduced to 166,880 ha but upgraded to Wildlife Refuge in the early 1970s. The reserve was further reduced to 154,400 ha in the 1980s. No threats are known and no conservation measures are known to have been proposed.
Additional information
References: Firouz et al. (1970), Scott (1976b).