Ile Blanche (6374)
Guinea, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2001

National site name: Ile Blanche

Central coordinates: Latitude: 9.4333, Longitude: -13.7667

System: marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 0 to 23

Area of KBA (km²): 0.67105

Protected area coverage (%): 70.00

KBA classification: Regional

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Ile Blanche is the southernmost island of the Iles de Los archipelago, located some 10 km offshore, south-west of the capital Conakry. It is a rocky, lateritic island with a surface area of some 10 ha which becomes divided into three islets at high tide. The island is covered with fine and coarse sands with, except for a few mangroves, little vegetation. The mean tidal amplitude is 3.6 m and the island is surrounded by relatively deep water.

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 island is regularly used as a roost by terns and other waterbirds. Non-bird biodiversity: The sea-turtle Lepidochelys olivacea (EN), and possibly other sea-turtle species, nest on the sandy beaches.

Delineation rationale: Type 2 marine IBA: non-breeding (coastal) congregations.

Habitats

Land use: nature conservation and research

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The island was declared a Ramsar Site in 1993. It is uninhabited, but there is heavy human pressure on turtle nests and young. This activity is likely to result in disturbance of roosting and breeding birds.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Work & other activities		Ongoing

Additional information