Tadmur desert and mountains (8309)
Syria, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Tadmur desert and mountains
Central coordinates: Latitude: 34.5000, Longitude: 38.3000
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 400 to 1387
Area of KBA (km2): 4074.78328
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: An area of steppe-desert around Tadmur in the centre of Syria, 150 km east of Homs, in a closed basin (c.70 × 35 km), surrounded by limestone and marl hills. There is an isolated oasis to the south of the town with extensive date-palm gardens, and Sabkhat Muh, a seasonally flooded salt-lake up to c.20 km long, lies to the south of the oasis. There are some scattered Tamarix trees around its fringe, and the steppe-desert surrounds are sparsely vegetated with perennial tussock-grass, Chenopodiaceae and Artemisia. The T-3 pumping station (34°31'N 38°45'E), 40 km east of Tadmur on the Iraq–Lebanon oil pipeline, is a small, man-made oasis with a plantation of mature Eucalyptus (c.2 ha), a garden and a sewage pond (c.0.5 ha). The main land-use is grazing livestock. The area is famous for its Roman ruins.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: This is the last remaining breeding site for the eastern population of the Northern Bald Ibis. A representative assemblage of characteristic desert species occurs, with added interest due to the isolated oasis, surrounding hills and seasonal wetland. See box for key species. Other probable or confirmed breeding species include Buteo rufinus, Aquila chrysaetos, Cursorius cursor, Charadrius leschenaultii, Pterocles alchata, Bubo bubo, Athene noctua, Ammomanes deserti, Alaemon alaudipes, Eremophila bilopha, Oenanthe deserti, O. lugens, Pycnonotus leucotis (c.450 km west of its main range in Iraq) and Corvus corax. The oasis at Tadmur provides the only substantial shelter for migrant birds for 150 km to the north and west and for much further to south and east, and a very wide variety of species are attracted; the oasis is especially important for migrating raptors, e.g. Pernis apivorus, Buteo buteo (roost of 1,500, April), Milvus migrans (roost of 87, April), Circus macrourus and C. pygargus. Wintering species at the salt-lake include Phoenicopterus ruber (90, November) and Grus grus. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: Canis lupus (V; probably occurs), Caracal caracal (rare) and Gazella subgutturosa (rare). A few individuals of Sand Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa marica) are still striving to survive within a rugged section of the protected area. This is most likely one of the two last sites in Syria where this animal, iconic for the Arabic culture, can still be found. In addition of being almost completely extinct in the region, Sand Gazelle is listed as a Vulnerable species globally.
Other site values: The land is state-owned since the 1960s (although traditionally used by Amur and other Bedouin tribes).
Delineation rationale: 2010-07-02 (BL Secretariat): area changed from 45,000 (as in 1994 book) to 245,000 (45,000 considered to be a misprint: site described in 1994 book as a basin of 70 km x 35 km = 245,000 ha); this accords much better with the draft polygon, which has an area of equal magnitude; NB this site includes the 'Ibis Protected Area' of approximately 23,000 ha extent.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Stony and sparsely vegetated steppe (over-grazed pastures). The soil, almost lacking organic matter (1%), is composed of a mix of loam, gypsiferous and calcareous rock widely covered by gravel and stones. Sparse perennial dwarf shrubs, not exceeding 20-25 cm in height, are the only vegetation occurring, dominated by Salsola vermiculata. The dwarf shrub Salsola volkensi dominates the annual vegetation component. Annual grasses occur scantly along larger wadi beds, whose dominant vegetation is shrubs of Tamarix spp. The main land-uses are sheep grazing and hunting (100%). The steppe habitat is intensely used by Bedouin indigenous community, belonging to Amur tribe, as pastures for the grazing of their sheep. These people are nomadic or semi-nomadic. The period of the year when these pastures hold the highest density of nomads overlaps with the ibis breeding season. During wet years, the same habitat is visited by thousands of people coming from all over the country to search for much-valued desert truffles.
Land use: agriculture | hunting (100%) | rangeland/pastureland (100%) | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | 80 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 | |
| Artificial - Aquatic | 5 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 5 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats at the site are human disturbance (especially during Bald Ibis's incubation period), uncontrolled hunting, uncontrolled sheep grazing, and uncontrolled shrub-uprooting for firewood (Serra and Peske 2006b; Jimenez Armesto et al. 2006).
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human intrusions & disturbance | War, civil unrest & military exercises | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Jimenez Armesto, M.J., Boehm, C. & Bowden, C. (Compilers). 2006. International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita. AEWA Technical Series No. 10. Bonn, Germany.Serra G., Scheisch Abdallah M., al Qaim G., Kanani A. In prepr. Feeding ecology and behaviour of last surviving middle eastern N. Bald Ibises breeding in the Syrian steppe.Serra G. 2002. Proposal for an action plan to protect wildlife of Palmyrean desertic steppe. FAO report project GCP/SYR/009/ITA prepared upon request of Syrian Ministry of Environment, available at FAO Representation in Damascus Syria.Serra, G., Abdallah, M., Al Quaim, G., Fayed, T., Assaed, A. & Williamson, D. 2003. Discovery of a relict breeding colony of Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita in Syria: still in time to save the eastern population? Oryx 38: 1-7.Serra G., Abdallah M., Assaed A., Al Qaim G., Abdallah A. 2005. A long-term bird survey of central Syrian desert (2000-2003). Part 1. Sandgrouse, 27(1): 9-23. Part 2. Sandgrouse, 27(2): 104-125.Serra G. and L. Peske. 2006 a. Coordinating protection efforts of breeding N. Bald Ibises Geronticus eremita in Palmyra (Syria) and trapping / satellite tagging 3 individuals. Internal Report. BirdLife International / Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.Serra G. and L. Peske. 2006 b. N. Bald Ibis conservation efforts in Syria 2002-2006: results and lessons learned. In N. Bald Ibis conservation and reintroduction workshop. Eds. C. Boehm, Bowden CGR, Jordan M. and C. King. Second International Advisory Group on N. Bald Ibis (IAGNBI) meeting, Vejer (Andalusia) 2006.