Rio Kapatchez (6365)
Guinea, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Rio Kapatchez
Central coordinates: Latitude: 10.4833, Longitude: -14.5500
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 5
Area of KBA (km2): 131.9941
Protected area coverage (%): 84.40
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site is located on the north-west coast, to the south of the town of Kamsar, at the mouth of Rio Kapatchez. It extends between Pointe Gonzalez to the north-west and the Koumba river to the south-east, just to the north of Cap Verga. The site includes a large expanse of mudflats as well as mangroves, sand-dunes, freshwater marsh and rice-fields. Mangroves are well-developed along the Kaliki river and, at its mouth, c.3 km east of Pointe Gonzalez, is a sandy islet known as Khôni Benki.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: See Box for key species. The mudflats are used by both Phoenicopterus minor (counts of 5,000–10,000) and P. ruber. Several waterbird species nest in the mangroves including Scopus umbretta, Ciconia episcopus and, perhaps, Mycteria ibis. In addition, large numbers of wintering waders use the mudflats, including several hundred Recurvirostra avosetta. Khôni Benki is an important high-tide roost for waders. The freshwater marshes and rice-fields are used by numerous nesting Phalacrocorax africanus, Anhinga rufa, Casmerodius albus, Dendrocygna viduata and, probably, Ardeola ralloides. Although there have been no complete counts, available data suggest that the site is regularly used by more than 20,000 waterbirds and it is likely that further counts would reveal that some species exceed 1% thresholds. Non-bird biodiversity: The dolphin Sousa teuszii (DD) has been recorded near Khôni Benki.
Delineation rationale: Type 2 marine IBA: non-breeding (coastal) congregations.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 5 | |
| Forest | 80 | |
| Shrubland | 4 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 9 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area was designated a Ramsar Site in 1992. Disturbance of nest-sites by farmers and fishermen is a problem, as is cutting of the mangroves to supply wood to the nearby urban market of Kamsar. Clearance of mangroves for rice cultivation is a further threat. The site is state owned.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Altenburg and van der Kamp (1991a, b), Jones (1993).