Kalar area (iq044)

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Site Description: The Diyala River flows south-southwest from the outlet of Darbandikhan Reservoir and eventually enters the Tigris River south of Baghdad. This site is located on the Diyala River between two important bird areas along this corridor, Darbandikhan (IQ040) and Maidan Area (IQ045) to the north and Himreen Lake (IQ053) to the south. There are surrounding hills, some cultivated areas, and an extensive but often fragmented riparian zone.

The main habitat in the region is steppe, but the botanical survey evaluated the riverine forest. The site is located in the Moist Steppe Zone, where the geology is sandstone, clay,

and sandy gravel, and the soil type is sandy clay. The non-vegetated area covered approximately 50% of the terrain.

There is continuous construction of housing and commercial development, especially between Kalar and Kifri, northwest of the delineated area. Crops are grown (primarily wheat and barley) and hunting is practised especially in the foothills near Mil Qasm and Sar Qala (about 26 km northwest of the study site). Oil wells are being drilled in Mil Qasm and Sar Qala by Western Zagros Oil Company and the area northwest of the site is now targeted for future drilling by the same company. Gravel is mined along the Diyala River in many locations.

Kalar area (iq044)

Sulaimani - 34.555°N 45.285275°e

KBA Criteria: VIBA Criteria: a1IPA Criteria: B1 and C

Area: 1130 ha - Altitude: 177-195 mEcoregion: Mesopotamian Shrub Desert (Pa1320)Status: Unprotected

important Bird area Criteria Notes

V. Vulnerability Criteria: Presence of Critically Endangered and Endangered species – presence of a single individual or Vulnerable species – 30 individuals or 10 pairs.

Gazella subgutturosa Four individuals of Goitered Gazelle were seen over a two-day period (possibly the same group on both days). In addition, this species has been reliably reported by locals and in a separate 2011 survey near Mil Qasm and Sar Qala, eight were observed.

important Bird area Criteria Observations made 2007-2009.

a1. Globally threatened species Breeding Wintering/ Passage

Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus (Summer visitor) 2 pairs (count 2007)

important Plant area Criteria

B1. Site is a particularly species-rich example of a defined habitat type

Riverine Forest of the Plains (Al-Ahrash) habitat type.

C. The site is identified as an outstanding example of a globally or regionally threatened habitat type.

This site represents a good example of the Riverine Forest of the Plains (Al-Ahrash) habitat type, which is a globally important habitat and extends along the basins of Tigris- Euphrates Rivers. Also this site is under threats of gravel mining, agriculture and pollution from untreat-ed sewage from the city of Kalar as well as towns and villages upstream.

©2009 K ARARAT/NI

Key Biodiversity AreAs of irAq

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additional important Bird Observations: During the surveys, 60 species were recorded. The site also held one breeding Irano-Turanian, one Mediterranean and three Sahara-Sindian Desert biome-restricted species but this did not trigger inclusion under criterion A3. European Roller Coracias garrulus (Near Threatened) was recorded in the breeding season.

Other important Fauna: Data for non-avian fauna were collected during 2007 and 2008 only, when 18 Wild Boars Sus scrofa, which are often hunted, and one Indian Grey Mongoose Herpestes edwardsii were observed.

Fish: Data were collected in 2007 and 2008 only, during which five significant species were reported: Alburnus mossulensis, Carasobarbus luteus, Cyprinion macrostomum, Gambusia holbrooki, and Garra rufa.

Conservation issues: The area is highly impacted by gravel mining. Agriculture and pollution from untreated sewage from the city of Kalar as well as towns and villages upstream that enter the Diyala River also represent a threat to the site. Residential developments such as housing complexes are increasing in the city of Kalar and have expanded into the areas between Kalar and Kifri, especially in the years after the fall of Saddam. Hunting is another high threat with a focus on Goitered Gazelle and See-See Partridge, despite the fact that hunting is forbidden in this area.

recommendations: Gravel mining occurring up and down the Diyala River must be controlled to eliminate and/or mitigate its negative impacts on water quality, sediment transport, riparian forests and ultimately, river-dependent species. This is a common problem on most Iraqi rivers. Overall the Kalar Area would benefit greatly from increased environmental

planning and better land management. Monitoring of impacts from and controls on agriculture, development and pollution, particularly as the Diyala River is an important water source for locals and downstream populations as well as wildlife, are a priority. Additional monitoring of birds and other wildlife along the entire Diyala River corridor is needed.