Hefer valley (8176)
Israel, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Hefer valley
Central coordinates: Latitude: 32.4500, Longitude: 34.9333
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 18 to 18
Area of KBA (km2): 143.32407
Protected area coverage (%): 0.03
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A largely agricultural area (orchards, wheat, legumes, cotton), stretching from Karkur to Tira, c.10 km inland from Netanya near the Mediterranean coast. There are some fish-ponds and reservoirs scattered within the valley.
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: See box for key species. Three species of heron and egret breed, and non-breeding summer visitors include Casmerodius albus, Ardea cinerea, A. purpurea, Ardeola ralloides, Ciconia ciconia, Platalea leucorodia, Plegadis falcinellus and Fulica atra. Wintering numbers of Grus grus have fluctuated but have not been less than 100 since 1980. Other notable wintering species include Circus aeruginosus (25). Large flocks of Pelecanus onocrotalus occur on passage. Non-bird biodiversity: Flora: Linaria pelisseriana, Verbascum berytheum.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | nature conservation and research (2%) | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Aquatic | 5 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 90 | |
| Grassland | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Most of the area is not protected. A new National Park (Hasharon, c.600 ha) is being developed, which will include Brehat Ya’ar (Birket Ata), a small wetland and proposed Nature Reserve (c.20 ha) holding the breeding waterbirds and non-breeding summer visitors mentioned above. There are local threats from urbanization, human disturbance, agricultural intensification and pollution.
Additional information
References: Levy and Yom-Tov (1991).