Susangerd marshes (8125)
Iran, Islamic Republic of, Middle East

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1d

Year of last assessment: 1994

National site name: Susangerd marshes

Central coordinates: Latitude: 31.7500, Longitude: 47.9167

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 15 to 15

Area of KBA (km²): 1240.72328

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: A complex of permanent and seasonal, freshwater to brackish marshes and seasonally flooded arable land on the flood-plain of the Karkheh river, 60-90 km west-north-west of Ahwaz near the Iraqi border. The site comprises the north-east extremity of the vast Hoor Al Azim (Haur Hawizeh) marshes, the bulk of which lies in Iraq. The adjacent semi-desertic plains have sparse steppic vegetation.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.

Additional biodiversity: See boxes for key species. An important wintering area for geese, surface-feeding ducks and shorebirds, notably Anser anser, Anas strepera and Himantopus himantopus. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | military | rangeland/pastureland

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Desert	5
Wetlands(Inland)	48
Artificial - Terrestrial	48

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There is no legal protection. Parts of the wetland are reported to have been damaged during the Iran-Iraq war.

Additional information