Golan Heights (8170)
Syria, Middle East

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: D1a

Year of last assessment: 2016

National site name: Hadhbat al-Jawlan

Central coordinates: Latitude: 33.0434, Longitude: 35.7885

Elevation (m): 550 to 1500

Area of KBA (km²): 800.97558

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: An upland region east of the Hula Valley and Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), ascending to 1,500 m and roughly bounded by Hamat-Gader, Ramat Magshimim, Alonei Habashan, Kuneitra, El Rom and Kazrin. The area is typified by rolling grassland with scattered trees and bushes of Quercus, Styrax, Pistacia, Rubus and Ziziphus, and there are some small pools and reservoirs. Much of the area is cultivated or grazed by cattle, and there is considerable military activity.

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. KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Mediterranean Hotspot (2017). Taxonomy, nomenclature and global threat category follow the 2016 IUCN Red List.

Additional biodiversity: See box for key species. The region holds good numbers of breeding raptors, with the plateau area around Nahal Gamla, Zavitan and Yehudiya being especially important. Ducks often winter in good numbers, mainly Anas penelope, Aythya ferina and A. fuligula. Stream valleys flowing from the southern Golan into Lake Kinneret were the last refuge of Ketupa zeylonensis in this area, now apparently extinct. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: Spalax ehrenbergi (2n=54), Canis lupus (V), Gazella gazella (V). Reptiles: Elaphe quatuorlineata (endemic). Flora: Phlomis syriaca, Colchicum brachyllum.

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | military | nature conservation and research (27%) | rangeland/pastureland

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Artificial - Aquatic	5
Grassland	5
Wetlands(Inland)	5
Artificial - Terrestrial	80
Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks)	5

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: All the important sites for birds are treated as Nature Reserves by Israel. The Israeli military administration cooperates with Israeli nature-conservation agencies to prevent damage to bird populations, especially of raptors.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Small-holder farming	Only in the future
Human intrusions & disturbance	War, civil unrest & military exercises		Only in the future

Additional information

References: Bahat (1986), Geller (1983), Schluter (1987).