Lac Débo - Lac Oualado Débo (6614)
Mali, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B1, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Lac Débo - Lac Oualado Débo
Central coordinates: Latitude: 15.2500, Longitude: -4.2500
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 261 to 265
Area of KBA (km2): 1069.93328
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This site is part of the Inner Delta of the Niger and is located about 90 km north of Mopti, to the east of the town of Youvarou. It comprises an area of almost level flood-plain and includes a number of seasonally inundated lakes (of which Lac Débo and Lac Oualado Débo are by far the largest), ponds and river channels. In years with good rainfall the area is flooded between August and January after which the size of wetlands shrinks gradually. The grasses Echinochloa stagnina and Vossia cuspidata are dominant in seasonally flooded areas. Included in the site, to the east of Lac Oualado (=Walado or Gualado) Débo, is an area of Acacia woodland. This area was first used as a breeding site by a colony of herons and cormorants in 1985, the breeding season coinciding with the time of the flood.
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.
Additional biodiversity: See Box and Table 2 for key species. In addition, it is possible that Prinia fluviatilis (Data Deficient), may occur in marginal vegetation. Total counts of waterfowl made in 12 years during the period 1977–1998 varied between 26,446 (1980) and 534,552 (1994). Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 67 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 28 | |
| Shrubland | 1 | |
| Grassland | 2 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: This site was designated Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1987. The site is state-owned but villages within its boundaries have traditional rights of exploitation over some areas. The impact of proposed dams and water diversion projects in the region is a significant potential threat. The Acacia woodland within the site is threatened by clearance for rice cultivation, degradation through overgrazing by goats and the cutting of wood to provide fuel. The breeding colonies of herons and cormorants that use this woodland are dependent on the annual flood reaching the area.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (agricultural use) | Only in the future |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Altenburg et al. (1986), Jones (1993).