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close| Location | Syria, Hims |
| Central coordinates | 37o 35.00' East 34o 55.00' North |
| IBA criteria | B2, B3 |
| Area | 40,000 ha |
| Altitude | 900 - 1,105m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See box for key species. Other breeding species include Buteo rufinus and Pterocles alchata, and wintering waterfowl include c.500 Anser albifrons and c.400 ducks.
Site description An isolated mountain (up to 1,105 m) lying c.70 km north-west of Tadmur (Palmyra). The landscape is eroded and the scant vegetation includes scattered trees/bushes of Pistacia, Prunus and Rhamnus, and shrubs of Artemisia, Atriplex, Salsola and Anabasis. There is some unspecified waterfowl habitat, presumably caused by winter flooding of depressions.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sand Partridge Ammoperdix heyi | resident | 1993 | present [units unknown] | - | B3 | Least Concern |
| Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus | resident | 1993 | present [units unknown] | - | B2 | Least Concern |
| Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus | resident | 1993 | present [units unknown] | - | B2 | Endangered |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | major | |
| Shrubland | minor | |
| Desert | major | |
| Wetlands (inland) | minor |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| rangeland/pastureland | major |
| hunting | - |
Other biodiversity Mammals: Canis lupus (V) and Gazella subgutturosa (rare). Flora: many endemics are confined to the isolated mountains in the Syrian Desert.
Management considerations Known threats comprise hunting, fuelwood gathering, grazing and excessive erosion by wind and water. An Enclosed Rangeland Reserve of 40,000 ha has been proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, and c.20,000 ha may already be a State Forest Protection Zone.
References Ketene (1991).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Jabal al-Bilas. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013
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