Aammiq swamp

Ammiq

The wetland in winter

The Aammiq floodplain , also: Aammiq swamp (Aamiq, Ammiq; Arabic مستنقع عميق, DMG Mustanqaʿ ʿAmīq , English Aammiq Wetland ), is the largest remaining floodplain area in Lebanon , a remnant of the extensive floodplain landscapes that formerly shaped the Bekaa plain . It was designated an Important Bird Area in the Middle East by Birdlife International in 1994 and was added to the IUCN 's Directory of Wetlands in 1995. In 1999 it was declared area No. 978 by the Ramsar Convention and in 2005 it was designated a biosphere reserve together with the Al-Chouf cedar nature reserve by UNESCO .

geography

The marshland lies on one of the most important bird migration routes in the world. So far, 250 different bird species have been observed. The wetland is 7 km southwest of the city of Qab Elias on the eastern edge of the Lebanon Mountains . The core zone with reeds and pools of water extends over 253 hectares in a long strip from the eastern foot of the mountains to the Litani . Rain and snow on the slope of the Baruk provide the area with plenty of water. The precipitation, which mostly falls between December and March, quickly fills the karstified rock layers of the mountains and reappears as springs on the valley floor. The water is particularly pure. However, the springs repeatedly dried up in the years after 2010, leaving only sparse pools. Through the introduction of improved irrigation techniques by the environmental organization A Rocha and the cultivation of crops with lower water consumption, it was possible to ensure continuous irrigation of the marshland. Since 2002 there has been an increase in wintering and breeding birds. Around the water points and the reed thickets are fallow land, pastures, drainage ditches and avenues of trees, all of which contribute to biodiversity . Additional biotopes offer forest areas and rocky heathland areas on the mountain slopes. Blood woodpeckers ( Dendrocopus syriacus ) and cedar girlitz ( Serinus syriacus ) live in the forests near the village of Aammiq . The heathland is home to wheatear , grass warbler and shrike, and rock nuthatch ( Sitta neumayer ) and eagle owl ( Bubo bubo ) live in the rocky gorges . Common mammals are the Caucasian squirrel , wildcat , wild boar and Indian porcupine ( Hystrix indica ).

Long-eared owl ringing

Fortunately, the landowner family, who owns the largest part of the area, campaigned for the preservation of the valuable area and tried to enhance the region through ecotourism .

Research projects

The conservation organization A Rocha in Lebanon was founded in 1996. Since then, she has strongly advanced research on the flora and fauna of Lebanon and especially in West Bekaa . Studies were carried out and short and long-term projects carried out and a permanent monitoring program set up. A few short-term studies in particular have made great contributions to the knowledge of the bird world in Lebanon. The studies included an autumn migratory bird census (1998), an inventory of the bird species on the mountain slopes above Aammiq (1999/2000) and a study on the autumn migration routes of birds of prey (2000). In addition, archaeological studies were carried out at the Aammiq site , including a pollen analysis .

fauna

Most of the animal species were recorded through inventories by the conservation organization A Rocha. Below is an overview of the main species found in or in the Aammiq wetland area.

Mammals

The otter Lutra lutra had disappeared since around 1975; its occurrence was confirmed again in June 2003. Water buffalo were used for landscape maintenance in the wetland. In addition, there are: Southern white-breasted hedgehog ( Erinaceus concolor ), Kaphase ( Lepus capensis ), Caucasian squirrel ( Sciurus anomalus ), Indian porcupine ( Hystrix indica ), wolf ( Canis lupus ), red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ), badger ( Meles meles ), Striped hyena ( Hyaena hyaena ), Edmigazelle ( Gazella gazella ), wild boar ( Sus scrofa ) and reed cat ( Felis chaus ). The large predators such as the Asiatic lion ( Panthera leo persica ) and the Asiatic cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus venaticus ) have become extinct.

Water buffalo
gazelle
Asiatic lioness

Birds

About 260 species of birds have been observed since 1996. However, many of them are only migrants: the most endangered guests include the greater spotted eagle ( Aquila clanga ), eastern imperial eagle ( Aquila heliaca ), red chalk hawk ( Falco naumanni ), snipe ( Gallinago media ), bog duck ( Aythya nyroca ) and steppe harrier ( Circus macrourus ). Among the migratory birds, storks and lesser spotted eagles stand out, hundreds of which arrive in Aammiq at times. Other migratory birds face only in smaller groups: Pygmy ( Micro Carbo pygmeus ) Rosapelikan ( Pelecanus onocrotalus ), Flamingo ( Phoenicopterus rubber ), Osprey ( Pandion haliaetus ), Black Eagle ( Aquila verreauxii ), Peregrine ( Falco peregrinus ), crane ( Grus grus ), Rock dove ( Columba livia ).

Dwarf shark
Mallard
Bluethroat
Rock pigeons

Amphibians and reptiles

In addition to the diversity of birds, five amphibians and twelve reptile species were also counted. Among others: toad ( Bufo viridis ), Mediterranean tree frog ( Rana bedriagae ) Levante Lizard ( lacerta media ), Blöd eye ( Typhlops vermicularis ), Levante Otter ( Macrovipera lebetina ).

Emerald lizard
European green toad
Mediterranean tree frog

Butterflies and dragonflies

An inventory of the butterflies takes place every two years. So far, 53 species have been counted: thick-headed butterfly ( Carcharodus boeticus ), swallowtail ( Papilio machaon ), sailing butterfly ( Iphiclides podalirius ), false apollo ( Archon apollinus ), large cabbage white butterfly ( Pieris brassicae ), small monarch ( Danaus chrysippus ), large wandering blue ( Lampides chrysippus ) boeticus ).

Sail butterfly

Scarlet dragonfly

The dragonflies are represented in large numbers: damselflies and dragonflies : Azure Damselfly ( Coenagrion puella ), tailed Damselfly ( Ischnura elegans ), Great Emperor Dragonfly ( Anax imperator ), Southern Darter ( Sympetrum meridionale ), Feuerlibelle ( Crocothemis erythraea ).

Environmental education

A Rocha Lebanon has been running an environmental education program on the wetland since 1998. The program is aimed at schoolchildren and students and has already reached over 6,000 young people. The program is linked to the schools' local studies curriculum and provides first-hand instruction on ecosystems.

Web links

Individual evidence

^ Niamh Fleming-Farrell: Blissful peace, less than two hours from Beirut. In: The Daily Star . June 28, 2012, Retrieved August 2, 2012 .
↑ Lara Hajar, Maya Haïdar-Boustani, Carla Khater, Rachid Cheddadi: Environmental changes in Lebanon during the Holocene: Man vs. climate impacts. In: Mina Weinstein-Evron, Louis Scott, Liora Kolska Horwitz (eds.): 'Palaeoenvironment' in Honor of Professor Aharon Horowitz (= Journal of Arid Environments. Vol. 74, No. 7, 2010, ISSN 0140-1963 ). Elsevier, Amsterdam et al. 2010, pp. 723-724, doi : 10.1016 / j.jaridenv.2008.11.002 , ( online (PDF; 998 kB) ).

33.731431 35.788983Coordinates: 33 ° 43 ′ 53.2 " N , 35 ° 47 ′ 20.3" E

[1] Niamh Fleming-Farrell: Blissful peace, less than two hours from Beirut. In: The Daily Star . June 28, 2012, Retrieved August 2, 2012 .

[2] Lara Hajar, Maya Haïdar-Boustani, Carla Khater, Rachid Cheddadi: Environmental changes in Lebanon during the Holocene: Man vs. climate impacts. In: Mina Weinstein-Evron, Louis Scott, Liora Kolska Horwitz (eds.): 'Palaeoenvironment' in Honor of Professor Aharon Horowitz (= Journal of Arid Environments. Vol. 74, No. 7, 2010, ISSN 0140-1963 ). Elsevier, Amsterdam et al. 2010, pp. 723-724, doi : 10.1016 / j.jaridenv.2008.11.002 , ( online (PDF; 998 kB) ).