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IR033
Parvar Protected Area
Location Iran, Islamic Republic of, Semnan
Central coordinates 53o 35.00' East  35o 57.00' North
IBA criteria A3, B2, B3
Area 66,626 ha
Altitude 1,800 - 3,888m
Year of IBA assessment 2001





Ornithological information See box for key species. The reserve contains a very good variety of alpine and Juniperus forest species, as well as Caspian forest and montane steppic species. It is one of the few known localities for Mycerobas carnipes in Iran. Other notable species include Melanocorypha bimaculata, Phoenicurus erythronotus, S. hortensis, Phylloscopus trochiloides nitidus, Serinus pusillus, Rhodopechys mongolica and Emberiza buchanani. At least 101 species have been recorded in the reserve.

Site description A portion of the east-central Alborz Mountains c.35 km north of Semnan, spanning the divide from semi-arid steppe at c.1,800 m on the southern slopes to the upper levels of the humid Caspian forest in the north, peaking at 3,888 m. A deep, rain-shadow valley runs east-west through the centre of the reserve, with spectacular cliffs and scree slopes and some of the finest Juniperus forest in the Alborz. Other habitats include humid and dry high alpine zones, and rolling semi-arid Artemisia steppe in the south. Land ownership is public.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Caspian Snowcock Tetraogallus caspius resident  1977  17 breeding pairs  good  B3  Least Concern 
See-see Partridge Ammoperdix griseogularis resident  1977  frequent [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Saker Falcon Falco cherrug resident  1977  2 breeding pairs  good  B2  Endangered 
Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina breeding  1977  1 breeding pairs  unknown  B2  Least Concern 
Sombre Tit Parus lugubris resident  1977  frequent [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Plain Leaf-warbler Phylloscopus neglectus breeding  1977  common [units unknown]  -  A3, B3  Least Concern 
Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides breeding  1977  common [units unknown]  -  B3  Least Concern 
White-throated Robin Irania gutturalis breeding  1977  common [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Finsch's Wheatear Oenanthe finschii breeding  1977  common [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Red-tailed Wheatear Oenanthe chrysopygia breeding  1977  common [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Pale Rock Sparrow Petronia brachydactyla breeding  1977  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Parvar Protected Area 66,626 is identical to site 66,626  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest   major
Grassland   major
Rocky areas   minor
Shrubland   minor

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
nature conservation and research 100%

Other biodiversity Mammals: Canis lupus (V), Ursus arctos (rare), Panthera pardus (rare), Capra hircus aegagrus (rare) and Ovis ammon (rare).

Management considerations Parts of the area were first protected as the Parvar Reserve, established in 1962. A Protected Region of 37,937 ha was established in 1965, re-classified as a Protected Area and enlarged to 59,840 ha in the early 1970s. No threats are known.

References Firouz et al. (1970), Scott (1976b).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Parvar Protected Area. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013

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