Telesm plain (8115)
Iran, Islamic Republic of, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Telesm plain
Central coordinates: Latitude: 34.1333, Longitude: 46.3667
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1410 to 1410
Area of KBA (km2): 32.44895
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Gently rolling, cultivated plains set in a valley between folds of the north-west Zagros Mountains and almost completely surrounded by low stony hills. The site is 5-10 km south-south-east of the village of Kerend and 70 km west-south-west of Kermanshah. The land is cultivated (mostly cereals) or fallow, with Artemisia steppe on the surrounding hills. The area is sparsely populated, with only one small village in the extreme south-east. There is some livestock grazing. Land ownership is public and private.
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. An important breeding area for Otis tarda in the 1970s, with probably at least 10 nesting females; the birds were present May-September, local farmers reporting concentrations of up to 50-60. Buteo rufinus also breeds, and Aquila chrysaetos is an occasional visitor. Winter visitors include Accipiter gentilis (scarce), and passage migrants include Buteo buteo and Grus grus. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Habitats
Land use: rangeland/pastureland
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 50 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area was very little disturbed in the 1970s and no other threats are known. No conservation measures are known to have been proposed.
Additional information
References: Adhami (1972a), Eftekhar (1972a,b, 1973a), Fotoohi and Mansoori (1974), Scott (1971a,b).