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SY023
Mount Hermon
Location Syria, Quneitra
Central coordinates 35o 45.00' East  33o 15.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A2, A3, B3
Area 10,400 ha
Altitude 1,100 - 2,200m
Year of IBA assessment 2001

Syrian Society for the Conservation of Wildlife (Affiliate)



Ornithological information See box for key species. Other breeding species include Lullula arborea, Eremophila alpestris, Oenanthe oenanthe libanotica, Sylvia hortensis, Parus lugubris, Sitta neumayer and Emberiza caesia.

Site description From the area of Majdal Shams, north to the Lebanese border. Much of the area is under Israeli military control, but a road to a ski resort allows easy access to 2,000 m and the rocky summit lies at 2,814 m. Woodland from 800 m to the treeline at 1,800-1,900 m is dominated by Quercus calliprinos, Q. cerris, Colutea cilicica and Spartium juneum, above this by a scrubland of Phlomis chrysophylla, Prunus ursina, Astragalus hermoneus, Acantholimon libanoticus and Onobrychis species. There are orchards on the lower slopes.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus breeding  1993  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Sombre Tit Parus lugubris resident  1993  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Upcher's Warbler Hippolais languida breeding  1991  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala resident  1993  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata resident  1993  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Western Rock-nuthatch Sitta neumayer resident  1993  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
White-throated Robin Irania gutturalis breeding  1991  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Finsch's Wheatear Oenanthe finschii breeding  1991  1-4 breeding pairs  good  A3  Least Concern 
Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica breeding  1993  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Pale Rock Sparrow Petronia brachydactyla breeding  1991  10-30 breeding pairs  good  A3  Least Concern 
Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus breeding  1991  50-70 breeding pairs  good  A1, A2, A3  Vulnerable 
Crimson-winged Finch Rhodopechys sanguineus resident  1991  15-20 breeding pairs  good  B3  Not Recognised 
Cretzschmar's Bunting Emberiza caesia breeding  1993  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala breeding  1993  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Bahukalat (Gando) Protected Area 461,472 is identical to site 461,472  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial)   10%
Forest   30%
Grassland   30%
Shrubland   20%
Rocky areas   10%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture minor
Notes: Agric/cultiv
tourism/recreation major
Notes: Tourism/Recreation
military major
nature conservation and research 67%

Other biodiversity Mammals: Sciurus anomalus (rare), Apodemus hermonensis (endemic). Reptiles: Cyrtodactylus amictopholis (endemic), Elaphe hohenackeri, Vipera bornmuelleri (I; endemic). Flora: Alcea dissecta.

Management considerations All the non-military area is treated as a Nature Reserve by Israel. Ski-lifts lead to heavy recreational activity and disturbance at the highest elevations in summer, and there is considerable military traffic. Overgrazing, tree-felling and diversion of water are potential threats.

References Hoter and Ezov (1991), Zuaretz (1983).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Mount Hermon. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013

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