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Semi Deserts of Ras Baalbek
Location Lebanon, Beqaa
Central coordinates 36o 25.52' East  34o 17.92' North
IBA criteria A3
Area 7,814 ha
Altitude 760 - 1,200m
Year of IBA assessment 2008

Society for the Protection of Nature and Natural Resources in Lebanon



Ornithological information Ten Biome-restricted Species, mostly from the Saharo-Sindian Desert biome breed here: Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor,Bar-tailed Lark Ammomanes cinctura, Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti, Temminck’s Lark Eremophila bilopha, Scrub Warbler Scotocerca inquieta, Spectacled Warbler, Western Rock Nuthatch, Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens, Pale Rockfinch Carpospiza brachydactyla and Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus. Of these species, 7 are rare or unknown as breeders elsewhere in Lebanon. Several other species breed here commonly which are also scarce or rare breeders elsewhere in the country(Prior & Conroy 2009).

Site description This IBA is situated in the northeast of the country in the Bekaa valley, just north of the village which gives it its name. It consists of flat or gently undulating stony arid land extending up into the Anti-Lebanon mountain range.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor breeding  2005-2006  11-20 individuals  poor  A3  Least Concern 
Bar-tailed Lark Ammomanes cinctura breeding  2005-2006  10 individuals  poor  A3  Least Concern 
Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti resident  2006  3 individuals  poor  A3  Least Concern 
Temminck's Lark Eremophila bilopha resident  2005-2006  30-32 individuals  poor  A3  Least Concern 
Streaked Scrub-warbler Scotocerca inquieta resident  2005-2006  3-5 individuals  poor  A3  Least Concern 
Mourning Wheatear Oenanthe lugens resident  2005-2006  11-34 individuals  poor  A3  Least Concern 
Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus breeding  2005-2006  2-7 individuals  poor  A3  Least Concern 

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Desert   90%
Other   10%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture minor
Notes: There is a low level of arable agriculture, both open fields and plastic ‘poly-tunnels’, irrigated with water pumped from boreholes. This is increasing every year.
hunting major
rangeland/pastureland major

Management considerations The area currently has no formal protection. The biggest threats to wildlife are excessive hunting and probably overgrazing but the latter has yet to be thoroughly assessed.

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Semi Deserts of Ras Baalbek. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife