Wadi Gimal island (6203)
Egypt, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2001

National site name: Wadi Gimal island

Central coordinates: Latitude: 24.6667, Longitude: 35.1667

System: marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 0 to 20

Area of KBA (km²): 3.54942

Protected area coverage (%): 100.00

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: A small coralline island, fringed by coral reefs to the north-east, with good sea-grass beds offshore to the south-west. A small mangrove stand is located in an isolated pool in the middle of the island, and another occurs on the south-west shore, which slopes very gently, forming extensive mudflats. A moderate-sized saltmarsh is found along the inland fringe of the coastal mangrove, and many isolated halophytic shrubs are scattered over the rest of the islands.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)

Additional biodiversity: See Box for key species. Nine bird species are known to breed on Wadi Gimal island: Phaethon aethereus, Butorides striatus, Egretta gularis, Platalea leucorodia, Pandion haliaetus, Falco concolor, Larus hemprichii, Larus leucophthalmus and Sterna caspia. The smaller number of breeding birds on this, and other southern Egyptian Red Sea islands, is probably due to the limited ornithological coverage of this region, rather than to a lack of birds or suitable breeding habitats. Non-bird biodiversity: Reptiles: Chelonia mydas (EN) has been reported nesting on the island. Mammals: the marine pastures surrounding the island are probably a good grazing habitat for Dugong dugon (VU), as well as for Chelonia mydas.

Delineation rationale: Type 1 marine IBA: suitable for the seaward extension approach.

Habitats

Land use: nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The island is part of the Elba National Park, which was declared by Prime Ministerial Decree 450/1986, adjusted by Prime Ministerial Decree 1186/1986 and Prime Ministerial Decree 642/1995. Pollution, particularly by oil, and disturbance by an increasing number of tourists and fishermen, who occasionally collect the eggs and young of breeding birds, are the main threats to birds on the island. The expanding tourist development taking place along the coast in this vicinity is leading to increased human disturbance and other threats to the island and its birdlife.

Additional information