Jal Az-Zor (8203)
Kuwait, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Jal Az-Zor
Central coordinates: Latitude: 29.5500, Longitude: 47.7833
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 116
Area of KBA (km2): 339.68591
Protected area coverage (%): 95.57
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A rocky escarpment rising steeply to 116 m from the coastal mudflats and associated saltmarshes and sand-dunes on Kuwait Bay. A gravel plain extends northwards from the escarpment ridge and gives rise to the extensive wadi system of Ar-Rimam. Most of the park is sandy desert, with much gravel in northern areas. Dunes of the coastal zone are dominated by Zygophyllum, higher areas of sand by Rhanterium and Cyperus, whilst on the gravel plains Stipa grass is dominant. In spring, the playas are covered in Gynandriris irises. Soil fertility is very low and the site has no agricultural value; the site was much used during winter and spring for prolonged recreational camping activities before the recent conflict.
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)
Additional biodiversity: Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research (100%) | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | 95 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Prior to the Gulf conflict, the park had been completely enclosed but much of the fencing was destroyed or removed during the Iraqi occupation. The Park management and protection schemes have not yet been re-instated. Without a resumption of these measures, the area will again be subjected to former major problems: excessive hunting/falconry, destruction of desert crust by vehicles, overgrazing and browsing, and, more locally, excessive soil erosion. There have been proposals to reintroduce Oryx leucoryx and Gazella subgutturosa.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |