Ramot Menashe (8173)
Israel, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Ramot Menashe
Central coordinates: Latitude: 32.5833, Longitude: 35.0833
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 100 to 300
Area of KBA (km2): 112.8789
Protected area coverage (%): 12.81
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Hilly agricultural country with Quercus trees, on the western slopes of Mount Carmel, 5 km east of the Carmel coast. The area of interest lies in, between and around the two villages of Amiqam and Bat Shlomo (4 km apart).
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. This is an important site for Falco naumanni, which breeds in old buildings at Amiqam (c.30 pairs) and Bat Shlomo (up to 10 pairs); their foraging area covers c.2,500 ha in surrounding fields. Hippolais olivetorum also breeds. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 48 | |
| Forest | 5 | |
| Shrubland | 48 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main potential threats are destruction of the old buildings where F. naumanni nest, and agricultural intensification involving pesticides in the surrounding fields.