Hashelan marsh and Doh Tappeh plains (8114)
Iran, Islamic Republic of, Middle East

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 1994

National site name: Hashelan marsh and Doh Tappeh plains

Central coordinates: Latitude: 34.5500, Longitude: 46.9167

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 1500 to 1500

Area of KBA (km²): 130.8686

Protected area coverage (%): 0.11

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The site lies at c.1,500 m in a broad intermontane basin in the north-west Zagros Mountains, c.20-30 km north-west of Kermanshah, and comprises a small area of permanent freshwater pools and marshes fed by a group of large springs (Hashelan Marsh, 400 ha) and the adjacent flat cultivated plains (c.10,000 ha) which extend to the region of Doh Tappeh c.10 km to the south. The site is bordered to north, east and west by mountains, and is contiguous with the densely populated plains around Kermanshah. The principal area for bustards comprises c.5,000 ha of wheat cultivation, fallow land and rough pasture between the Ab-e-Razavar and Ghara-Su rivers. There are several small villages in the area, and high-tension power lines cross the southern edge. The pools have abundant submerged and floating vegetation, and the marshes are dominated by sedges and rushes. 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. Hashelan Marsh supports small breeding populations of Ardea purpurea and Aythya nyroca, and is of some importance for wintering waterfowl (notably A. nyroca). Ciconia ciconia is a common summer visitor. Otis tarda was a summer visitor in the 1970s; 5-10 females were thought to nest. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

Habitats

Land use: hunting

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Wetlands(Inland)	4
Artificial - Terrestrial	95
Grassland	1

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There is a considerable amount of duck hunting at Hashelan Marsh. The plains are densely populated and disturbance is high. A reserve encompassing the wetlands and main bustard area was proposed in the 1970s, but was never implemented. This area is currently under study by the Department of the Environment.

Additional information