Région Jorf Lasfar (6497)
Morocco, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2016

National site name: Région Jorf Lasfar

Central coordinates: Latitude: 33.1955, Longitude: -8.5915

Elevation (m): 0 to 56

Area of KBA (km²): 4.12891

KBA classification: Regional

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Located on the Atlantic coast, 24 km south of El Jadida, the southern part of this 400 ha site consists of consolidated sandstone cliffs up to 56 m high, whilst the northern part is comprised of a rocky plateau up to 300 m wide, intercut by creeks and sand- and pebble-beaches. The surface of this plateau contains many shallow hollowed-out basins 1–4 m deep, filled with marshy vegetation. The sparse terrestrial vegetation of the site consists mainly of scattered bushes of Lycium intricatum. However, seaweeds (Laminariaceae) grow in profusion at the foot of the cliffs, including Chorda filum, Alaria sp., Agarum oibrosum, Laminarium digitata and Laminaria agardhii. The abundant invertebrate fauna includes polychaetes such as Marphysa sanguinea, Clymenella sp. and Amphitrite sp., oligochaetes and bivalve molluscs such as Mytilus edulis and Modiolus modiolus. The site is bordered inland by uncultivated fields and a tarmac road, and to the north by the village of Moulay Abdellah.

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. 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 site is an important wintering and migratory staging-post, offering as it does abundant food-sources for waders and other waterbirds. At least 38 species have been recorded, including (in 1993) a single Numenius tenuirostris. Arenaria interpres is regularly present in large numbers, while Larus audouinii is often present in small numbers. An important nesting population of Apus pallidus breeds in the cliffs, but has never been censused/studied. Non-bird biodiversity: The site has a high diversity of reptiles and amphibians—16 species have been recorded, of which four are endemic.

Habitats

Land use: urban/industrial/transport

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The site is a priority 2 SIBE (No. L23). Conservation threats so far identified include pollution from an industrial phosphate complex located at the southern end of the site; the dumping of household waste, sewage and construction rubble from the cliffs; disturbance of birds by fishermen; the illegal capture and sale of birds of prey; and the degradation of the seaweed beds by over-quarrying of the rock platform. Protected-area status and legislation are urgently needed, together with the implementation of an action plan to safeguard the site.

Additional information