Geziret Garah (6475)
Libya, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2016

National site name: Geziret Garah

Central coordinates: Latitude: 30.7901, Longitude: 19.9040

Elevation (m): 0 to 8

Area of KBA (km²): 0.57759

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Geziret Garah is a small, sandstone island lying 12 km offshore in the Gulf of Sirt (Surt, Sirte), some 20 km west-south-west of the town of Azzuwaytinah (Zuwaytinah). It measures some 150 x 300 m. On the northern, western and eastern sides there are low cliffs resulting from wave erosion. The southern side is more sheltered and slopes gradually to the sea, with some small sandy beaches. The island is sparsely vegetated with low, scattered bushes.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Mediterranean Hotspot (2017). Taxonomy, nomenclature and global threat category follow the 2016 IUCN Red List.

Additional biodiversity: See Box for key species. The colony of Sterna bengalensis on the island represents 95% of the breeding population of the species in the Mediterranean. The only other species that breeds on the island is Larus cachinnans. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

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

Habitats

Land use: not utilised (100%)

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The fishing areas for terns from the colony appear to lie not only in the waters immediately surrounding the island, but also in areas at some distance from it. Protection of the island and the seas adjacent to it may not, therefore, be sufficient to ensure the protection of the colony. The island lies within sight of a large oil-processing plant which presents a serious potential risk of pollution. There is no evidence of direct human disturbance on the island.

Additional information