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close| Location | Jordan, Amman,Madaba |
| Central coordinates | 35o 45.77' East 31o 47.21' North |
| IBA criteria | B2 |
| Area | 24,700 ha |
| Altitude | 900 m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See box for key species. The area has been little investigated ornithologically. Winter visitors include Eudromias morinellus (formerly very common, now possibly much reduced).
Site description Plains of former steppeland, e.g. between Jiza and Hisban and between Rabba and Shihan, now almost wholly converted to dry cultivation of cereals. There is also some irrigated agriculture.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca | winter | 1993 | 10 individuals | poor | B2 | Vulnerable |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | major | |
| Grassland | major |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | major |
| rangeland/pastureland | minor |
| urban/industrial/transport | minor |
Other biodiversity Flora: Colchicum tunicatum (endemic), Romulea bulbocodium (rare), Globularia arabica (rare).
Management considerations Expansion and intensification of agriculture, and over-extraction of groundwater for irrigation, are all critical problems. The very heavy level of grazing and built development are major problems, as is abandonment of traditional management locally. The site is not well characterized at the moment, and is very little known ornithologically. The lack of surveys to identify the extent of remaining semi-natural grassland, and the composition of the bird community, hinder evaluation of conservation priorities in Jordan.
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Madaba - Hisban - Kafrein. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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