Hormoz island (8160)
Iran, Islamic Republic of, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Hormoz island
Central coordinates: Latitude: 27.0500, Longitude: 56.4667
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 235
Area of KBA (km2): 41.99355
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The island, c.7 km offshore in the Straits of Hormoz, is roughly circular and c.7 km across. Most of the shore is sand beach, but there are some rocky shores and low cliffs, and a small tidal creek system with saltmarsh vegetation just east of the main harbour. Inland are sandy plains with little vegetation other than a few scattered thorn trees, and bare volcanic hills rising to 235 m. There is one substantial fishing village and a few small settlements with small patches of irrigated cultivation and date gardens.
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 boxes for key species. No proper surveys have been carried out. The island is probably an important staging and/or wintering area for shorebirds, gulls and terns, and figures are given below for a brief survey in May 1974. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Delineation rationale: Type 1 marine IBA: suitable for the seaward extension approach. Type 2 marine IBA: non-breeding (coastal) congregations.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | 85 | |
| Marine Neritic | 5 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 5 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There is no legal protection and no information on threats.
Additional information
References: Gallagher et al. (1984), Scott (1975b).