Qatar to build an area to conserve ‘rare birds’ in Kurdistan Region, says investment board

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Qatar is set to build a special area in the Kurdistan Region in a bid to conserve “rare birds” that migrate through Iraq and its Kurdish region, the investment board said in a statement.

Qatari Consul General to Erbil Hussain Bin Ali Al-Fadala and head of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Board of Investment Mohammad Shukri discussed the plan in a meeting on Monday in Erbil, a press release from the board read.

The designated area that is intended to be turned into a conservation spot for the rare birds is located in Erbil Plains, including Kandenawa and Shamamik Plains, per the readout.

The investment official reiterated the government’s support for the project.

Qatar is one of the “stop-over” sites for migratory birds and is home to 300 species of birds.

​Mount Peramagroon in the Kurdistan Region’s Sulaimani province has been designed as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA), an international criteria that sets an area for being globally important for the conservation of bird populations. Iraq in general has 74 IBA, according to the Egyptian Vulture Conservation Project in Iraq.

The country’s bird population faces numerous challenges, including illegal hunting, deforestation, trafficking, and climate change adverse effects that affect the natural habitats of the birds.

Between 2008 and 2012, the Kurdistan Region passed several laws and regulations aimed at protecting its natural resources such as trees, animals, and water, including several locations popular with tourists who appreciate scenic beauty.