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close| Location | Kuwait, Al Jahrah |
| Central coordinates | 46o 51.00' East 29o 15.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, B2 |
| Area | 57,500 ha |
| Altitude | 240 m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See box for key species. Until overgrazing severely damaged the vegetation in the early 1980s, a representative breeding bird community occurred, comprising Cursorius cursor, Bubo ascalaphus, Athene noctua, Eremophila bilopha, Alaemon alaudipes, Ammomanes deserti, Ammomanes cincturus, Melanocorypha bimaculata and Galerida cristata. Proper management could see a return of these species.
Site description The area is part of a flat, desert plateau of hard-packed gravelly sand with numerous playas, at 240 m. Its northern side is bordered by Wadi Al-Batin, where the land falls away some 45 m and is characterized by shallow, rocky gullies. The plateau is dominated by Haloxylon and, in spring and early summer, by Stipa grass. In rocky gullies Zilla is common, and many annuals flourish including Diplotaxis species. Traditionally the area has been used for grzing, hunting and recreational camping; the main economic value of the land probably lies in its underground water reserves.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca | passage | 1993 | 12 individuals | good | A1, B2 | Vulnerable |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Batin desert | Park | 0 | unknown | 0 |
|
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | Hot | 100% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| hunting | minor |
| Notes: Hunting | |
| tourism/recreation | minor |
| Notes: Recreation | |
| rangeland/pastureland | major |
Other biodiversity None known to BirdLife International.
Management considerations Overgrazing in the last 12 years seriously reduced the wildlife value of the area, and movement of military vehicles during the 1990–1991 conflict with Iraq caused major damage to vegetation and desert crust. At present much scattered, unexploded ordnance is deterring grazing activity, and anecdotal reports from military pilots suggest that the area is fast becoming revegetated. A study was carried out by the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research and Kuwait Municipality to designate the area as a National Park.
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Al-Batin Park. 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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