Wadi Yarmuk (8186)
Jordan, Middle East

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2016

National site name: Wadi Yarmuk

Central coordinates: Latitude: 32.6543, Longitude: 35.7612

Elevation (m): -150 to 300

Area of KBA (km²): 383.37275

Protected area coverage (%): 5.36

KBA classification: Regional

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: A steep-sided valley running along the Jordan-Syria border. There are remnants of Pinus woodland on the slopes, and lush reedbeds Phragmites and oleander Nerium thickets along the Yarmuk river, which is the least polluted of Jordan's main rivers. There is a small, spring-fed pool at Birket al Rais. The riverine area is currently a military zone; the main human use of the river is as a water supply to irrigate farmland in the Jordan Valley; local activities include cultivation, fishing, forestry, reed-cutting and mushroom collection.

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. 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. Other likely breeding species include Halcyon smyrnensis, Anthus similis, Cercomela melanura, Acrocephalus stentoreus, Cisticola juncidis and Nectarinia osea. Non-bird biodiversity: Fish: Tilapia gallilae (endemic).

Delineation rationale: As part of compiling the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Mediterranean Hotspot (2017), the KBA Yarmuk Valley (SitRecID 8186) has been expanded to form the larger KBA Yarmouk, enclosing the smaller KBA Um Queis (31931) in the process.

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | forestry | military

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Wetlands(Inland)	43
Shrubland	43
Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks)	5
Forest	5
Artificial - Terrestrial	5

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Access to the military zone is restricted, which provides some indirect protection. Diversion of water to supply irrigation to intensive agricultural projects in the Jordan Valley is a critical problem along the lower course of the river; drainage of wet bank-side habitats is a major problem, and dynamite fishing in the river and excessive soil erosion are occurring locally. The South American rodent Myocastor coypus has been introduced; its effects on riverine vegetation are unknown but may be seriously destructive. The Ramtha Wastewater Treatment Plant discharges treated effluent into the river, but this is currently considered to be at an acceptable level. There have long been plans for a large-scale, joint Jordanian-Syrian dam across the Yarmuk river (Wahda or Unity Dam), which would potentially be a critical threat.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Small-holder farming	Ongoing

Additional information

References: Pearce (1993).