Jabal al-Bilas (8306)
Syria, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Jabal al-Bilas
Central coordinates: Latitude: 34.9167, Longitude: 37.5833
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 900 to 1105
Area of KBA (km2): 425.29937
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: An isolated mountain (up to 1,105 m) lying c.70 km north-west of Tadmur (Palmyra). The landscape is eroded and the scant vegetation includes scattered trees/bushes of Pistacia, Prunus and Rhamnus, and shrubs of Artemisia, Atriplex, Salsola and Anabasis. There is some unspecified waterfowl habitat, presumably caused by winter flooding of depressions.
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: See box for key species. Other breeding species include Buteo rufinus and Pterocles alchata, and wintering waterfowl include c.500 Anser albifrons and c.400 ducks. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: Canis lupus (V) and Gazella subgutturosa (rare). Flora: many endemics are confined to the isolated mountains in the Syrian Desert.
Habitats
Land use: hunting | rangeland/pastureland
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | 45 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 | |
| Grassland | 45 | |
| Shrubland | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Known threats comprise hunting, fuelwood gathering, grazing and excessive erosion by wind and water. An Enclosed Rangeland Reserve of 40,000 ha has been proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, and c.20,000 ha may already be a State Forest Protection Zone.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Only in the future |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Only in the future |
Additional information
References: Ketene (1991).