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close| Location | Iran, Islamic Republic of, Kermanshah |
| Central coordinates | 46o 55.00' East 34o 33.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, B1i, B2 |
| Area | 10,050 ha |
| Altitude | 1,500 m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See box for key species. Hashelan Marsh supports small breeding populations of Ardea purpurea and Aythya nyroca, and is of some importance for wintering waterfowl (notably A. nyroca). Ciconia ciconia is a common summer visitor. Otis tarda was a summer visitor in the 1970s; 5-10 females were thought to nest.
Site description The site lies at c.1,500 m in a broad intermontane basin in the north-west Zagros Mountains, c.20-30 km north-west of Kermanshah, and comprises a small area of permanent freshwater pools and marshes fed by a group of large springs (Hashelan Marsh, 400 ha) and the adjacent flat cultivated plains (c.10,000 ha) which extend to the region of Doh Tappeh c.10 km to the south. The site is bordered to north, east and west by mountains, and is contiguous with the densely populated plains around Kermanshah. The principal area for bustards comprises c.5,000 ha of wheat cultivation, fallow land and rough pasture between the Ab-e-Razavar and Ghara-Su rivers. There are several small villages in the area, and high-tension power lines cross the southern edge. The pools have abundant submerged and floating vegetation, and the marshes are dominated by sedges and rushes. Land ownership is public.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca | resident | 1977 | 4 breeding pairs | good | B1i | Near Threatened |
| Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca | winter | 1970-1977 | 130 individuals | good | A1, B1i, B2 | Near Threatened |
| Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis | resident | 1977 | 20 breeding pairs | good | B1i | Least Concern |
| Great Bustard Otis tarda | breeding | 1977 | 5-10 breeding pairs | good | A1, B2 | Vulnerable |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | 96% | |
| Wetlands (inland) | 4% | |
| Grassland | minor |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| hunting | major |
Other biodiversity None known to BirdLife International.
Management considerations There is a considerable amount of duck hunting at Hashelan Marsh. The plains are densely populated and disturbance is high. A reserve encompassing the wetlands and main bustard area was proposed in the 1970s, but was never implemented. This area is currently under study by the Department of the Environment.
References Fotoohi and Mansoori (1974), Fotoohi and Scott (1975), Kahrom (1975), Scott (1971a, 1976a).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Hashelan marsh and Doh Tappeh plains. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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