Important Bird Areas-IBAs: Ras Baalbek

Location: The Ras Baalbek IBA is found at the extreme north end of the Bekaa Valley, in north-east Lebanon, extending up into the foothills of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range, in between the towns of Ras Baalbek and El Qaa.

Total area: 7,814ha

IBA Criteria met: A3

 Explanation: 10 biome-restricted species, mostly from the Saharo-Sindian Desert Biome breed here – Cream-coloured Courser, Bar-tailed Lark, Desert Lark, Temminck’s Lark, Mourning Wheatear, Streaked Scrub Warbler, Trumpeter Finch, Western Rock Nuthatch, Pale Rock Sparrow and Spectacled Warbler. Of these species, 7 are rare or unknown as breeders elsewhere in Lebanon. Several other species breed here commonly which are also scarce or rare breeders elsewhere in the country such as Little Owl and Greater Short-toed Lark.

Number of species observed: 50

Ras Baalbek Map1

Habitat: Flat or gently undulating stony desert and semi-desert, rising up to a wide wadi extending eastwards into the Anti-Lebanon Range. A small proportion of the land is used for arable agriculture although the exact extent varies from year to year.

Other wildlife interest: Jackals breed and reptiles scarce in other parts of Lebanon are found here.

Threats: Excessive hunting, conversion to agriculture. Over-grazing is a potential problem but requires assessment

Current conservation measures & future plans: Local people trained on site monitoring.

Al Hima Magazine 6th Issue

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) has released the sixth issue of Al Hima magazine, focusing on the upcoming IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi (October 8–15, 2025), where SPNL will join four key sessions. The issue features an exclusive interview with IUCN President Razan Al Mubarak, who emphasizes aligning IUCN’s work with global biodiversity agendas, governance, member responsiveness, multilateral engagement, ethical use of technology, and amplifying diverse voices.

Read Previous issues

spot_img
spot_img

More like this

From Tradition to Global Conservation: How Hima Aligns...

By Assad Serhal, Director General of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), Founder...

Arab Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Biodiversity Finance for Climate Resilience...

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) convened the Arab Multi-Stakeholder Forum on...

Applications Open for Cambridge Masters in Conservation Leadership with...

The University of Cambridge has officially opened applications for its prestigious Masters in Conservation Leadership, a ground-breaking...