Waraz (S25) &

Surveyed in the summer of 2009 Admin Area: Sulaimani Coordinates: N 35º 50’ 27” E 45º 29’ 58”Area: 15,856 ha

Altitude: 1240 m

Directional information: This site is located approximately 33 km to the northeast of the city of Sulaimani.

Waraz Valley facing southeast (Photo by Saman A. Rahman, 2009)

Waraz (S25) &Kuradawe (S27)

IBA Criteria: A1 IPA Criteria: Under assessmentCoordinates: N 35º 50’ 27” E 45º 29’ 58” Status: Unprotected Ecoregion: Zagros MountainSteppe (PA0446)

This site is located approximately 33 km to the northeast of the city of

Valley facing southeast (Photo by Saman A. Rahman, 2009)

Under assessment

Mountains Forest

This site is located approximately 33 km to the northeast of the city of

Kuradawe in summer (Photo by Korsh

Site Description:Waraz is a valley surrounded by mountains and villages, including Kanarwe, Ballikhy, and Betwate. To the south Kanarwe River flows from the Penjween Area towards Kuna Masi River (also called Chami Chwarta River), both tributaries the most important serpentine areasand walnut trees Juglans regia but amining along the Kuna Masi streamused as a picnic site. Further northwest is the forested village in the area).Kuna Masi stream from the west and joins itatthe village of AmadenDashty Tile and Pirahmad, Bewre, Gomle, BasneKuradawe Village. There are farmlandswalnuts, pears and almonds.

Sub_Site Code Sub_Site Name

S27 Kuradawe

S25 Waraz Important Bird Area Criteria

A1. Globally threatened species

Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus (Summer visitor)

Kuradawe in summer (Photo by Korsh Ararat, 2009)

Waraz is a valley surrounded by mountains and villages, including Kanarwe, Ballikhy, and Betwate. To the south Kanarwe River flows from the Penjween Area towards Kuna Masi River (also called Chami Chwarta River), both tributaries of the Lesser Zab. The sitthe most important serpentine areas in Kurdistan. Most of the valley is dominated by Platanus orientalis

but agricultural fields cover parts of the valley and there is also gravel mining along the Kuna Masi stream that affects the area in and around the stream. The area is also

forested mountainous area known as Kuradawe (named for the largest Kuna Masi stream flows north along its western side and another stream

from the west and joins itatthe village of Amaden. The area is surrounded by the villages of Amaden, Dashty Tile and Pirahmad, Bewre, Gomle, Basne,and Saraw and extends less than

armlands, orchards, and vineyards, which mainly produce grapes

Sub_Site Name Nearest Town IBA Code Coordinates

North

Kuradawe Basneh 35 50 27

Chwarta 35 47 30

Observations made in2009

A1. Globally threatened species

Breeding Wintering/Passage1 pair

Waraz is a valley surrounded by mountains and villages, including Kanarwe, Ballikhy, and Betwate. To the south Kanarwe River flows from the Penjween Area towards Kuna

Lesser Zab. The site is one of Platanus orientalis

of the valley and there is also gravel the area in and around the stream. The area is also

mountainous area known as Kuradawe (named for the largest nother stream flows in

illages of Amaden, 1 km north of produce grapes,

Coordinates

East

45 29 58

45 30 51

Wintering/Passage

Additional Important Bird Observations: A total of 40 species was seen. Breeding populations of four Irano-Turanian, three Mediterranean, one Eurasian High-Montane and one Sahara-Sindian Desert biome-restricted species were found but did not trigger inclusion under criterion A3. Other Fauna Mammals, Reptiles, and other Fauna: Data were not colleected. Plants& Habitats: The site contains 100 plant species.Two habitat types were examined:

1. Mountain Forest Vegetation- Mountain Riverine Forest (waypoint N 35° 49’ 41” E 45°28’ 46”), which is characterized by Juglans regia, Platanum orientalis and Morus sp. (tree), Rubus sanctus (shrub), and Papaver somniferum, Viola odorata, Mentha longifoliaand Parentucellia villos(herbs).

2. MountainForest Vegetation- Oak Forest lowest and medium zone (waypoint N 35º 50’ 26” E 45º 29’ 58”), which is characterized by Quercus aegilops andQ. Infectoria (trees), Pyrus syriaca, Prunus amygdalus and P. orientalis (shrubs), Papaver somniferum and Galium sp.(herbs), as well as some associated plants such as Anemone coronaria, Silene odontopetala, Aethionema arabicum, Cnicus benedictus var. kotschyi, Sedum sp.and Papavera rhoeas.

The ecological condition was between moderately disturbed and very disturbed, an ecological scale of three to four. The slope was between moderate (6-14°) and somewhat steep (15-26°). The site is located in the Zagros mountain range, where the geology is a basic igneous rock, radiolarian cherts, siliceous and calcareous shales, and metamorphic schists and limestones of unknown age, and the soil type is often serpentine. The non-vegetated area covered 15%. Conservation Issues: The main threats considered very highwere agriculture (livestock production/grazing/farming) and human intrusion (picnicking near Kuradawe village), which in turn causes pollution, particularly garbage dumped in and around the stream.Gravel mines are impairing the stream and the land around it, and were considered a high threat. Road construction and residential development are underway (especially close to the village), which were judged as medium threats (as was hunting) but may become more urgent if not controlled properly. Recommendations: The key recommendation is to increase environmental awareness among local populations and visitors and to further study and regulate agricultural and grazing. Regulations could include limiting the extent of these activities and/or controlling/mitigating their impacts, and may also necessitate further examination of the use of agricultural chemicals.