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JO005
Jordan Valley
Location Jordan, Balqa,Irbid
Central coordinates 35o 34.00' East  32o 16.00' North
IBA criteria A4i, B1i, B1iv, B2, B3
Area 80,000 ha
Altitude
Year of IBA assessment 2001

Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature



Ornithological information See box for key species. A major migration route and a notable wetland site. Other possible breeding species include Remiz pendulinus and Rhodopechys obsoleta. During spring passage large numbers of raptors move up the valley before veering eastwards and north-eastwards up tributary wadis, especially Pernis apivorus and Accipiter brevipes (see box), e.g. at Kafrayn and Ash Shuna Janubbiya. Autumn passage migrants include Pelecanus onocrotalus (daily max. 350) and Ciconia nigra (daily max. 11), and the latter is also a winter visitor, as is Eudromias morinellus (daily max. 50).

Site description A flat, open agricultural plain (below sea-level) with crop fields, market gardens and orchards, gently sloping down to the incised Jordan river in the west. The Jordan river is currently saline. There are small areas of grassland, scrub and bare, eroded badlands, comprising less than 10% of the area. Remnants of natural vegetation are Afrotropical in character. Tamarix woodland and Phragmites beds occur along the banks of the Jordan river. This is the main agricultural area in Jordan (mostly irrigated), and population density is relatively high. Livestock grazing, fishponds, hunting, recreation and tourism are secondary land-uses.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus resident  1993  uncommon [units unknown]  -  B2  Least Concern 
Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris resident  1993  1-9 breeding pairs  poor  A4i, B1i, B2  Vulnerable 
White Stork Ciconia ciconia passage  1993  5,000 individuals  poor  A4i, B1i, B2  Least Concern 
Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris winter  1993  rare [units unknown]  -  B2  Least Concern 
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis winter  1993  300 individuals  poor  B1i  Least Concern 
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus non-breeding  1993  4 individuals  poor  B2  Endangered 
Levant Sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes passage  1993  1,680 individuals  poor  B2  Least Concern 
Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus resident  1993  common [units unknown]  -  B3  Least Concern 
A4iv Species group - soaring birds/cranes passage  1993  6,680 individuals  poor  B1iv   

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial)   major
Shrubland   minor
Wetlands (inland)   minor
Grassland   minor

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
rangeland/pastureland minor
agriculture major
urban/industrial/transport minor
hunting minor
fisheries/aquaculture minor
tourism/recreation minor

Other biodiversity Fish: Tilapia gallileae (endemic).

Management considerations The high population density has led to a high impact on the environment. Critical problems include: over-extraction of groundwater and diversion of water from the Zarqa and Yarmuk rivers for irrigation; expansion and intensification of agriculture; toxic pollution from persistent pesticides, herbicides and heavy metals; eutrophication and salinization of soil and water-bodies (including the River Jordan, which is apparently unfit for human use at present). Major problems include: overgrazing; excessive disturbance of birds by human activities; and garbage pollution (especially the plastic mulch used in agriculture).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Jordan Valley. 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