Hamidieh (Omidiyeh) plains (8124)
Iran, Islamic Republic of, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Hamidieh (Omidiyeh) plains
Central coordinates: Latitude: 31.3333, Longitude: 48.3333
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 15 to 15
Area of KBA (km2): 1050.10267
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Semi-desertic steppe and irrigated arable land subject to winter flooding on the plain of the Karkheh river c.30 km west-north-west of Ahwaz. The site includes Hamidieh lake, an oxbow lake of c.3 ha with extensive Phragmites and Typha.
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 flood-plain wetlands are an important wintering area for herons and egrets, Anser anser, Tadorna tadorna, surface-feeding ducks, Himantopus himantopus and Recurvirostra avosetta. Marmaronetta angustirostris breeds at Hamidieh lake, and small numbers have been recorded on the flood-plain wetlands in winter. Small numbers of Grus grus winter (100). Turdoides altirostris is resident in the reeds; Hypocolius ampelinus is a fairly common summer visitor to the scrub around the lake, and Passer moabiticus is probably resident. Other notable breeding species are Pterocles alchata, Ceryle rudis, Acrocephalus stentoreus and Rhodopechys obsoleta. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 48 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 | |
| Desert | 48 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: No conservation measures are known to have been proposed and there is no information on threats.
Additional information
References: Scott (1976a).