Jabal al-Shuah (8304)
Syria, Middle East

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2016

National site name: Jabal al-Shuah

Central coordinates: Latitude: 35.3579, Longitude: 36.2482

Elevation (m): 300 to 1280

Area of KBA (km²): 255.34075

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The eastern slope of the Jibal al-Nusayriyah range is a very steep scarp, lining the western edge of the Al-Ghab basin. A 1977 map based on surveys in the 1940s suggests that c.20,000 ha of woodland existed along the scarp at that time. The current extent of woodland is unknown but is still likely to be sizeable, since the steep slopes have presumably inhibited clearance for agriculture or other uses. The woodland is dominated by Abies cilicica, with Carpinus orientalis and Ostrya carpinifolia.

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: There is no specific information available to BirdLife International, but the breeding bird community is likely to be very similar to Jabal Slenfeh (see site 011), and large numbers of migrating raptors of similar species to Jabal Slenfeh may pass down this scarp in autumn, arriving from the north-east from the Caucasus Mountains (Macfarlane 1978). As such, this forest site is likely to be very important as a rare example of a threatened and diminishing habitat in the Levant. Non-bird biodiversity: No information available to BirdLife International.

Habitats

Land use: forestry | hunting

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	100

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Hunting is a widespread activity in the Jibal al-Nusayriyah range. Shooting of migratory raptors is common in Syria (Baumgart 1991a, 1991b, Bijlsma 1987).

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target)	Ongoing

Additional information

References: Bijlsma (1987), Macfarlane (1978).