email a friend
printable version
close| Location | Lebanon, Beqaa |
| Central coordinates | 35o 41.38' East 33o 34.54' North |
| IBA criteria | A4iv |
| Area | 1,190 ha |
| Altitude | 850 m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2008 |
Ornithological information Observations suggest that over 20 000 soaring birds,including raptors, storks, pelicans and others pass over the lake annually (CC pers obs). Several species of conservation concern (2008 IUCN Red List) have been recorded here in recent years such as Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca, Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus, Great Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga, Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca and Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius on migration. It is also the most important site in Lebanon for wintering waterfowl (CC pers obs, Ramadan-Jaradi et al 2008).
Site description Lake Qaraaoun is a man-made reservoir,created by the damming of the Litani river. Surrounding the lake itself are woodland,orchards, and low-growing scrub. The water levels fluctuate severely in the course of the year and there is little or no submerged or emergent vegetation. Qaraaoun lake is the largest body of freshwater in Lebanon and located at the southern end of the Bekaa valley (a continuation of the Great Rift valley,a well-documented flyway for raptors and other soaring birds: Frumkin et al 1995,Yeshem & Yom-Tov 2008)
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A4iv Species group - soaring birds/cranes | passage | 2005 | - | poor | A4iv |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | 40% | |
| Artificial landscapes (aquatic) | 10% | |
| Grassland | 10% | |
| Shrubland | 35% | |
| Wetlands (inland) | 5% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | major |
| Notes: The land around the lake down to the highest winter water level is primarily agricultural, on the eastern side it is a mixture of arable crops and olive orchards, with some grazing of sheep and goats, on the western side the more steeply sloping land consists of fruit orchards and rough pasture with grazing. The western shore also has a number of restaurants and hotels, much patronized in late spring and summer, there are at these times three large boats which take people out onto the lake. There are a handful of fishing boats (approx 6). Hunting of birds is popular, in winter the hunters have been known to go out in boats to shoot wildfowl, otherwise the hunters drive on the dried up lake shore in summer and autumn to hunt primarily storks, heron/egrets and lark species. Also in these latter periods flocks of goats and sheep come onto the former lake bed to graze on vegetation that develops in the damp soil. The level of water drops to such an extent that the lake more than halves in size, leaving a steppe –like habitat of low vegetation and rocks/shingle which attracts large flocks of larks and lapwings. (Interim Report to the MAVA board on the Identification and Conservation of New “Important Bird Areas” in Lebanon Project - January 2006). | |
| fisheries/aquaculture | minor |
| Notes: The land around the lake down to the highest winter water level is primarily agricultural, on the eastern side it is a mixture of arable crops and olive orchards, with some grazing of sheep and goats, on the western side the more steeply sloping land consists of fruit orchards and rough pasture with grazing. The western shore also has a number of restaurants and hotels, much patronized in late spring and summer, there are at these times three large boats which take people out onto the lake. There are a handful of fishing boats (approx 6). Hunting of birds is popular, in winter the hunters have been known to go out in boats to shoot wildfowl, otherwise the hunters drive on the dried up lake shore in summer and autumn to hunt primarily storks, heron/egrets and lark species. Also in these latter periods flocks of goats and sheep come onto the former lake bed to graze on vegetation that develops in the damp soil. The level of water drops to such an extent that the lake more than halves in size, leaving a steppe –like habitat of low vegetation and rocks/shingle which attracts large flocks of larks and lapwings. (Interim Report to the MAVA board on the Identification and Conservation of New “Important Bird Areas” in Lebanon Project - January 2006). | |
| forestry | minor |
| hunting | major |
| Notes: The land around the lake down to the highest winter water level is primarily agricultural, on the eastern side it is a mixture of arable crops and olive orchards, with some grazing of sheep and goats, on the western side the more steeply sloping land consists of fruit orchards and rough pasture with grazing. The western shore also has a number of restaurants and hotels, much patronized in late spring and summer, there are at these times three large boats which take people out onto the lake. There are a handful of fishing boats (approx 6). Hunting of birds is popular, in winter the hunters have been known to go out in boats to shoot wildfowl, otherwise the hunters drive on the dried up lake shore in summer and autumn to hunt primarily storks, heron/egrets and lark species. Also in these latter periods flocks of goats and sheep come onto the former lake bed to graze on vegetation that develops in the damp soil. The level of water drops to such an extent that the lake more than halves in size, leaving a steppe –like habitat of low vegetation and rocks/shingle which attracts large flocks of larks and lapwings. (Interim Report to the MAVA board on the Identification and Conservation of New “Important Bird Areas” in Lebanon Project - January 2006). | |
| rangeland/pastureland | minor |
| tourism/recreation | minor |
| water management | major |
Management considerations Currently there is no formal protection or conservation management for any part of the IBA. The site falls under several different municipalities and multiple private ownership.However, local people have been trained through the IBA programme, and ongoing efforts with the key municipalities have been initiated. Indiscriminate hunting is a major threat as is water pollution coming into the lake from upstream. Disturbance to birds from the extensive recreational activities and the high level of grazing by sheep and goats on the lake shore are a cause for concern and it is possible that the latter is one of the factors leading to the lack of marginal vegetation.
Contribute Please click here to help BirdLife conserve the world's birds - your data for this IBA and others are vital for helping protect the environment.
Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Lake Qaraoun. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/06/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
|
|