Gabou (6633)
Mauritania, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Gabou
Central coordinates: Latitude: 18.2667, Longitude: -12.3667
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 300 to 300
Area of KBA (km2): 24.56988
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Gabou is located in the far west of the Tagant on the border with the Brakna. It is approximately 110 km south-west of Tidjikja. It is a large wetland depression on the northern end of the oued that connects it to Tâmourt en Na’âj further south (site MR015). Its size varies from year to year depending on the volume of rainfall received by the watershed. The vegetation typical of the area includes Acacia raddiana, A. ehrenbergiana, Capparis decidua,Leptadenia pyrotechnica, Maerua crassifolia, Hyoscyamus muticus, Tamarix sp., Salvadora persica, Balanites aegyptiaca, Panicum turgidum and Cenchrus biflorus.
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: In the years it receives adequate rainfall, Gabou is an important wetland habitat for Afrotropical and Palearctic waterbirds. Other species observed in large numbers include Anas querquedula (14,000), Anas acuta (6,000), Dendrocygna viduata (8,000), D. bicolor (600), Plegadis falcinellus (800) and Plectropterus gambensis (1,200). Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: No information.
Additional information
References: Lamarche (1988).