Namakazar basin (8106)
Iran, Islamic Republic of, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Namakazar basin
Central coordinates: Latitude: 34.0000, Longitude: 60.5000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 900 to 900
Area of KBA (km2): 574.76849
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Iranian portion of a large internal drainage basin, c.40 km from north to south and 20 km east to west, straddling the border with Afghanistan. The central part of the basin is occupied by bare saltflats which are subject to flooding during exceptional desert storms. This area is surrounded by a broad, sandy outwash plain with large areas of stabilized dunes and excellent desertic vegetation. The region is extremely arid, with no permanent water other than a few small springs at the base of the surrounding hills. The desertic steppe is dominated by Zygophyllum, and there is typical dune vegetation with scattered Tamarix, and some large patches of Tamarix scrub. The nearby stony hillsides are largely without vegetation. There may be some livestock grazing, but the area is very remote, very sparsely populated and far from any substantial supplies of fresh water.
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 extensive Zygophyllum steppe probably supports a large population of Podoces pleskei; five birds were seen in a brief survey in June 1973. The breeding avifauna is characteristic of Iran’s central and eastern deserts, with Ammomanes cincturus particularly common. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Habitats
Land use: not utilised
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: No conservation measures are known to have been proposed and there is no information on threats to the site.