Chahbahar Bay and Khor Konarak (8166)
Iran, Islamic Republic of, Middle East

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 1994

National site name: Chahbahar Bay and Khor Konarak

Central coordinates: Latitude: 25.3333, Longitude: 60.3333

System: marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 0 to 50

Area of KBA (km²): 392.83444

KBA classification: Regional

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Chahbahar Bay, on the coast of south-east Iranian Baluchistan, is an almost circular bay c.22 km across and 18 km from north to south, with an entrance 14 km wide between rocky headlands. The shore is a sand beach backed by a broad belt of low dunes. There is a large creek with extensive intertidal mudflats near the small fishing village of Konarak on the west side of the bay (Khor Konarak, 25°20'N 60°20'E). The much larger harbour town of Chahbahar is situated in the lee of the rocky headland at the east side. The sand beaches and tidal mudflats lack vegetation other than algae. The coastal dunes support typical vegetation, while the inland plain supports an open woodland of Acacia, Prosopis, Ziziphus and Tamarix, with large areas of bare sandflats. Land ownership is public.

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 box for key species. The site has little importance for breeding waterbirds, although Burhinus recurvirostris is resident. A small flock of Pelecanus crispus winters, along with reasonable numbers of shorebirds and large numbers of gulls and terns, notably Larus genei, L. cachinnans/L. argentatus and Sterna sandvicensis. Other wintering waterfowl include many Podiceps cristatus. The dunes, open thorn woodland and rocky hills around the bay support a typical Baluchi avifauna including Francolinus pondicerianus, Athene brama, Calandrella raytal, Hirundo obsoleta and Oenanthe alboniger. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

Delineation rationale: Type 2 marine IBA: non-breeding (coastal) congregations.

Habitats

Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | urban/industrial/transport

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	48
Marine Neritic	5
Desert	48

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There is no legal protection. The principal threat is pollution from the busy harbour town of Chahbahar.

Additional information