266:'s involvement of improved management techniques, such as the reduced pumping of water for irrigation of nearby farmland, and changes to less “thirsty” crops, has helped the marsh remain wet throughout the year. This has resulted in a significant increase in wintering and breeding water birds since 2002. Surrounding the open water and reed bed are areas of rough grazing, cultivated land, drainage ditches, and an avenue of trees, all adding to the diversity of habitats in the area. On the nearby mountain slopes, small wooded areas and rocky shrubland give an even greater variety of habitats and species. Behind the nearby village of Aammiq are woods where
643:
655:
667:
679:
365:. Research has been conducted in the form of preliminary studies, short- and long-term projects and an ongoing monitoring program. A number of short-term research projects have been carried out which have greatly increased the knowledge of bird life in Lebanon, such as an autumn migrant bird survey (1998), a survey of birds on the mountain slopes above Aammiq (1999/2000), and a study of the autumn routes of migrating
519:
531:
764:
507:
752:
922:
Lebanon has run the environmental education programme at the Aammiq
Wetland since 1998. Aimed at school and university students, it has seen nearly 6000 young people come through the program to date. The program is tied in with the Lebanese schools' national curriculum and provides an opportunity for
700:
from 1996 onwards. As with the other species lists, the Aammiq region is here taken to include not just the valley floor wetlands, which are very rich in reptiles, but also the adjacent farmlands and the rocky slopes of Mount Barouk. Herpetology, the study of reptiles and amphibians, is a specialised
555:
from 1996 onwards. The Aammiq region includes not just the valley floor wetlands but also the adjacent farmlands and the sometimes wooded rocky slopes of Mount Barouk. The listing of these birds does not give any idea of their abundance or status. While some of the birds recorded below are residents,
261:
to the west provide water for the wetland. Most rain falls between
December and March, soaking quickly through layers of limestone in the mountains and emerging as springs in the valley floor. The water is particularly pure, as it has not been polluted by agricultural fertilizers, pesticides, etc. In
923:
students to learn about wetland ecosystems first hand. Supporting learning in the classroom is important, but an educational visit to the marsh aims to provide students with "hands on" experiences for them to get a physical appreciation of the beauty and complexity of this unique environment.
844:
852:
106:
326:
98:
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were introduced to the swamp in order to maintain the health of the vegetation cover and the swamp itself, since buffalo graze wetlands in a more efficient way than other herbivores. The mammals recorded in the region include:
779:
As with many other groups, the moths of the Aammiq region are poorly known. The list below represents an incomplete and provisional list of species so far recorded, though the Aammiq region is rich in butterflies.
262:
recent years the marsh dried out by mid-July (with the exception of a few deep pools and ditches) and did not fill up again until
January or February. However, the introduction by
165:
The swamp lies on one of the most important bird migration routes in the world, and over 250 species of birds have been recorded in the area, including the globally vulnerable
969:
396:
personnel in the Aammiq region from 1997 onwards. The region covered includes not just the valley floor wetlands but also the adjacent farmlands and the slopes of
245:
have been recorded, and a two-year weekly butterfly survey found fifty-three species of butterflies in the area. The wetland lies 7 km SSW of the city of
763:
217:). In addition to the great diversity of birds in the area, there are a wide variety of animals living in and around the marsh. Twenty-three species of
21:
1076:
1091:
1086:
400:. In addition to these, other mammal species are probably present but have not yet been positively identified. One mammal of interest is the
1071:
1081:
413:
705:
herpetological survey of this area. Far more species are known to exist in the area than the ones reported. Species include:
654:
642:
1051:
146:
564:, may pass over Aammiq in flocks of hundreds at a time. Other migrants fly over in far smaller numbers. Species include:
1066:
1101:
1096:
666:
253:. The main area of reedbeds and open pools covers 253 ha, stretching east from the foot of the mountains to the
117:(the name is also sometimes transliterated as "Ammiq"or "Aamiq") is the largest remaining freshwater wetland in
974:
785:
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Also the Aammiq region has a surprising diversity of dragonflies which can be divided into two groups, the
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Lebanon in 1996, a great deal of scientific study has been undertaken and much has been learned about the
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134:
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722:
880:
793:
530:
518:
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which was reported in the Aammiq wetlands prior to 1975; its reappearance was confirmed in June 2003.
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258:
730:
706:
605:
573:
126:
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282:) can be found. In spring and summer, shrubby hillsides are home to assorted buntings, wheatears,
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The amphibians and reptiles listed below have been recorded in the Aammiq region either by
896:
872:
565:
469:
333:
The Aammiq
Wetland and some of the surrounding area is in the process of being declared a
190:
337:. The main landowning family is fully engaged in the preservation of this very important
714:
461:
401:
230:
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The following descriptions of mammals of the Ammiq wetlands have all been recorded by
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477:
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809:
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275:
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122:
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998:"Environmental changes in Lebanon during the Holocene: Man vs. climate impacts"
997:
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222:
121:, a remnant of much more extensive marshes and lakes that once existed in the
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36:
23:
860:
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445:
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338:
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97:
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Nearly 260 bird species have been recorded in the Aammiq region either by
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283:
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781:
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548:
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site number 978 in 1999, and most recently (2005) was designated, with
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personnel recorded several new records of species since 1998 such as:
137:, 1994), is included in the Directory of Wetlands in the Middle East (
597:
374:
154:
871:(the insects commonly referred to as dragonflies), species include:
996:
Hajar, L.; Haı¨dar-Boustani, M.; Khater, C.; Cheddadi., R. (2009),
341:
and initial plans to develop the area for ecotourism are underway.
940:
850:
362:
358:
354:
324:
138:
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in a long strip. Rain and snow falling on the high ridge of
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others are passage migrants. Some of these, such as the
369:and other soaring birds in Lebanon (2000). Various
83:
75:
67:
58:
53:
970:"Blissful peace, less than two hours from Beirut"
701:field and as yet there has been no systematic
373:studies have been carried out on the site of
329:Long-eared owl caught during ringing activity
8:
968:Fleming-Farrell, Niamh (June 28, 2012).
842:
104:
96:
932:
747:
638:
502:
361:of Lebanon and in particular the West
50:
82:
74:
66:
57:
7:
775:Moths, butterflies, and dragonflies:
193:bird species at the wetland include
14:
696:personnel or people working with
551:personnel or people working with
762:
750:
677:
665:
653:
641:
529:
517:
505:
414:southern white-breasted hedgehog
1077:Important Bird Areas of Lebanon
1092:Tourist attractions in Lebanon
1021:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2008.11.002
221:have been recorded, including
1:
1087:Biosphere reserves of Lebanon
147:Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve
1005:Journal of Arid Environments
125:. It has been designated an
306:). Mammals present include
1118:
1072:Nature reserves in Lebanon
1045:BirdLife Data Zone file:
660:Mallard (male and female)
91:
37:33.7314306°N 35.7889833°E
786:Oriental marbled skipper
690:Amphibians and reptiles:
290:, and rocky gorges host
1082:Ramsar sites in Lebanon
915:Environmental education
769:Mediterranean tree frog
249:on the eastern edge of
189:). Records of globally
856:
848:
349:Since the founding of
330:
241:and twelve species of
175:eastern imperial eagle
141:, 1995), was declared
135:BirdLife International
110:
109:The wetlands in winter
102:
42:33.7314306; 35.7889833
1052:Location on Wikimapia
909:Crocothemis erythraea
901:Sympetrum meridionale
881:blue-tailed damselfly
854:
846:
806:Iphiclides podalirius
735:Typhlops vermicularis
586:Phoenicopterus rubber
578:Pelecanus onocrotalus
570:Phalacrocorax pygmeus
328:
292:western rock nuthatch
167:greater spotted eagle
108:
100:
790:Carcharodus boeticus
743:Macrovipera lebetina
719:Pelophylax bedriagae
562:lesser spotted eagle
272:Dendrocopus syriacus
1067:Wetlands of Lebanon
757:European green toad
731:European worm snake
723:Levant green lizard
707:European green toad
237:). Five species of
127:Important Bird Area
33: /
1102:Tourism in Lebanon
1047:Aammiq Wetland IBA
948:Sites blackService
857:
849:
847:Scarce swallowtail
802:scarce swallowtail
430:Caucasian squirrel
418:Erinaceus concolor
345:Scientific studies
331:
308:Caucasian squirrel
300:Eurasian eagle owl
111:
103:
84:Reference no.
16:Wetland in Lebanon
905:scarlet dragonfly
889:emperor dragonfly
877:Coenagrion puella
855:Scarlet dragonfly
838:Lampides boeticus
830:Danaus chrysippus
610:Aquila verreauxii
602:Pandion haliaetus
268:Syrian woodpecker
151:Biosphere reserve
143:Ramsar Convention
95:
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1109:
1024:
1023:
1002:
993:
987:
986:
984:
982:
965:
959:
958:
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885:Ischnura elegans
834:long-tailed blue
822:Pieris brassicae
814:Archon apollinus
766:
754:
681:
669:
657:
645:
618:Falco peregrinus
614:peregrine falcon
606:Verreaux's eagle
590:ferruginous duck
582:greater flamingo
533:
524:Mountain gazelle
521:
509:
486:mountain gazelle
438:Indian porcupine
434:Sciurus anomalus
335:National Reserve
320:Indian porcupine
318:and the elusive
280:Serinus syriacus
215:Circus macrourus
203:ferruginous duck
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1039:A Rocha Lebanon
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950:
941:"Ammiq Wetland"
939:
938:
934:
929:
917:
897:southern darter
873:azure damselfly
798:Papilio machaon
770:
767:
758:
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685:
682:
673:
670:
661:
658:
649:
648:Pygmy cormorant
646:
566:pygmy cormorant
540:
534:
525:
522:
513:
510:
490:Gazella gazella
470:European badger
387:
347:
259:Barouk mountain
199:Gallinago media
191:near-threatened
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27:
24:
22:
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1097:Zahlé District
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1031:External links
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988:
975:The Daily Star
960:
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893:Anax imperator
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715:Levantine frog
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462:European otter
442:Hystrix indica
426:Lepus capensis
409:Water buffalos
402:European otter
386:
383:
371:archaeological
346:
343:
296:Sitta neumayer
231:European otter
211:pallid harrier
187:Falco naumanni
183:lesser kestrel
179:Aquila heliaca
162:
159:
115:Aammiq Wetland
101:Ammiq wetlands
93:
92:
89:
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61:Ramsar Wetland
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727:Lacerta media
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634:Columba livia
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594:Aythya nyroca
591:
587:
583:
579:
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574:white pelican
571:
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512:Water buffalo
508:
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491:
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482:Hyaena hyaena
479:
478:striped hyena
475:
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459:
458:Vulpes vulpes
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251:Mount Lebanon
248:
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212:
208:
207:Aythya nyroca
204:
200:
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171:Aquila clanga
168:
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79:16 April 1999
78:
71:Ammiq Wetland
70:
68:Official name
62:
52:
49:
46:
28:35°47′20.34″E
25:33°43′53.15″N
1038:
1008:
1004:
991:
979:. Retrieved
973:
963:
951:. Retrieved
944:
935:
918:
908:
900:
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876:
858:
837:
829:
821:
813:
810:false Apollo
805:
797:
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773:
742:
739:Levant viper
734:
726:
718:
711:Bufo viridis
710:
689:
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625:
622:common crane
617:
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569:
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398:Mount Barouk
389:
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348:
332:
303:
295:
279:
276:Syrian serin
271:
255:Litani River
234:
226:
214:
206:
198:
186:
178:
170:
164:
123:Bekaa Valley
114:
112:
54:Designations
18:
865:damselflies
826:plain tiger
818:large white
794:swallowtail
684:Rock pigeon
630:rock pigeon
558:white stork
538:fallow deer
474:Meles meles
466:Lutra lutra
450:Canis lupus
405:Lutra lutra
379:pollen core
235:Lutra lutra
227:Felis chaus
195:great snipe
161:Description
131:Middle East
40: /
1061:Categories
927:References
869:Anisoptera
867:) and the
672:Bluethroat
498:Sus scrofa
381:analysis.
377:including
239:amphibians
223:jungle cat
76:Designated
1037:official
981:August 2,
861:Zygoptera
626:Grus grus
536:European
494:wild boar
446:gray wolf
422:Cape hare
339:ecosystem
316:wild boar
304:Bubo bubo
247:Qab Elias
1015:: 1–10,
1013:Elsevier
953:25 April
560:and the
390:Mammals:
284:warblers
243:reptiles
1041:website
920:A Rocha
782:A Rocha
703:A Rocha
698:A Rocha
694:A Rocha
553:A Rocha
549:A Rocha
454:red fox
394:A Rocha
367:raptors
351:A Rocha
312:wildcat
288:shrikes
264:A Rocha
219:mammals
181:), and
129:in the
119:Lebanon
946:Ramsar
598:osprey
545:Birds:
375:Aammiq
298:) and
274:) and
229:) and
209:) and
155:UNESCO
1011:(7),
1001:(PDF)
385:Fauna
363:Bekaa
359:fauna
355:flora
153:” by
149:, a “
983:2012
955:2018
357:and
286:and
139:IUCN
113:The
1017:doi
911:).
903:),
895:),
887:),
879:),
832:),
824:),
816:),
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