Irbid - Mafraq plains (8188)
Jordan, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2016
National site name: Irbid - Mafraq plains
Central coordinates: Latitude: 32.4999, Longitude: 36.0545
Elevation (m): 600 to 600
Area of KBA (km2): 292.9712
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Agricultural plains between Irbid and Mafraq, with dry and irrigated cultivation of cereals.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas) 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. Breeding species include Charadrius leschenaultii. Wintering species include Grus grus and probably Eudromias morinellus. Non-bird biodiversity: Flora: Verbascum transjordanicum (endemic), Biarum eximum (rare) and Narcissus tazetta (experiencing collecting pressure).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | rangeland/pastureland | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 5 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 95 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There may be one or more Grazing Reserves in the area. The area was formerly semi-natural grassland, but little or none is likely to survive now. Expansion and intensification of agriculture, and over-extraction of groundwater for irrigation, are likely to be major problems. The levels of grazing and built development may be very heavy, and abandonment of traditional management may be occurring locally. The site is not well characterized at the moment, and is very little known ornithologically. The lack of surveys to identify the extent of remaining semi-natural grassland, and the composition of the bird community, hinders evaluation of conservation priorities.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Shifting agriculture | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: Information compiled by J. al-Joundi & A. Budieri.