Jordan Photograph by Marco Pagliani/ WWF MedPO   Southwestern Asia: Northeastern Syria and northern Iraq Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands   51,100 square miles (132,300 square kilometers) -- about twice the size of West Virginia Vulnerable

· Caught at the Crossroads
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Caught at the Crossroads

An ancient caravan route between Damascus and Baghdad once passed through this open shrub steppe, located in what is now northeastern Syria and northern Iraq. Today, the land along that route has been heavily cultivated, and native vegetation and wildlife are threatened. Still, islands in the Euphrates River continue to support remnants of native woodlands, while oxbow lakes, quiet backwaters, and marshes remain important for migratory waterfowl.

Special Features

A strong continental climate prevails here, with high summer temperatures, relatively cold winters, and many nights of frost. The Middle East Steppe becomes progressively more arid to the east and blends into the Syrian Desert in the south. Average annual rainfall is less than 10 inches (250 mm). Wormwood, the Eurasian relative of the North American sagebrush, is the dominant plant of the natural landscape. However, thousands of years of civilization have made their mark--only remnants of this ecoregion’s once-abundant native vegetation are left. The original shrub cover has been replaced by a less diverse assortment of grasses and sedges. The remaining natural vegetation along the Euphrates is composed of thickets of poplar, tamarix, and willow, with beds of reed grass and cattails.

In late winter and spring, a hot and dusty wind called khamsin blows from the east and southeast across the Middle East Steppe. It causes temperatures to rise as high as 109º to 120º F (43º to 49º C). It may blow continuously for three or four days at a time and then be followed by much cooler air. The name khamsin is derived from the Arabic word for 50, referring to the approximately 50-day period in which the wind annually occurs.

Wild Side

Greater flamingos have been sighted in salty lake basins where relatively deep and prolonged flooding still occurs. Houbara bustards and pin-tailed sandgrouse are residents of the surrounding semi-desert. Turtledoves gather by the hundreds of thousands on islands in the Euphrates during spring and autumn. Mammals that live in this rugged ecoregion include predators such as the wolf, red fox, and wildcat. Prey animals include goitered gazelles and cape hares. Wild boars, badgers, and crested porcupines can also be spotted here, as can a variety of vipers, lizards, and geckos.

Cause for Concern

Unfortunately, this ecoregion looks nothing like it did before human settlement. As part of the "cradle of civilization," it has been intensively used for thousands of years. Shrubs and woody riparian plants continue to be removed for household use. Natural wetlands have been degraded or destroyed by drainage for agriculture or diversion of water for irrigation. Beds of reed grass are burned to encourage plant growth that is better for cattle grazing. Hunting pressure on waterfowl and game birds, including the great bustard, is heavy and uncontrolled.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.