Jezre'el, Harod and Bet She'an valleys (8175)
Israel, Middle East

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1c, B1, D1a

Year of last assessment: 1994

National site name: Jezre'el, Harod and Bet She'an valleys

Central coordinates: Latitude: 32.5833, Longitude: 35.3333

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 50 to 100

Area of KBA (km²): 465.80458

Protected area coverage (%): 9.20

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: A valley system stretching north-west from Bet She'an in eastern Israel across most of the width of the country to Kiryat Tiv'on. The area is largely agricultural (orchards, wheat, legumes, cotton), with many fish-ponds and reservoirs.

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: An important area for waterbirds throughout the year; see boxes for key species. The fields of the Jezre'el valley supported a wintering population of up to 1,700 Grus grus during the 1980s, though this had dropped to 500 by 1991/92. Other wintering species include Circus aeruginosus (65), Aquila clanga (19) and Larus ichthyaetus (150). Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

Habitats

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Artificial - Aquatic	20
Shrubland	10
Artificial - Terrestrial	70

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There are small Nature Reserves within the site, but they do not have any special ornithological importance, and there are no other measures being taken to conserve the region. Human disturbance and agricultural intensification constitute threats to the birds using the area.

Additional information