Sambisa Game Reserve (6757)
Nigeria, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2001

National site name: Sambisa Game Reserve

Central coordinates: Latitude: 11.4123, Longitude: 13.0247

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 35 to 100

Area of KBA (km²): 688.71497

Protected area coverage (%): 100.00

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Sambisa lies within the catchment of the Yedseram river, south-east of Maiduguri in the north-east of the country. The dominant vegetation is Sudan–Guinea Savanna but, as a result of human activities, areas of the reserve have taken on a more Sahelian aspect. Dominant tree species include Detarium macrocarpum, Ficus spp., Vitex doniana, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Balanites aegyptiaca, Prosopis africana, Acacia spp., Piliostigma thonningii, Combretum spp., Adansonia digitata, Diospyros mespiliformis, Tamarindus indica and Terminalia spp.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)

Additional biodiversity: See Box and Table 3 for key species. To date, 62 species have been recorded, including four species of the Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome (A04) (see Table 3). Nationally uncommon species include Terathopius ecaudatus, Sagittarius serpentarius and Ardeotis arabs. The site is also thought to be the last in the country at which Struthio camelus occurs. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals of global conservation concern include Loxodonta africana (EN), Hippotragus equinus (LR/cd) and Alcelaphus buselaphus (LR/cd).

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | forestry | hunting | nature conservation and research

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Artificial - Terrestrial	100

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Although legally protected, the site suffers particularly from widespread felling of trees for fuelwood. Additionally, illegal grazing, poaching and over-fishing (including with chemicals, which also kills piscivorous birds), are serious problems. There are proposals to include the site within the Chad Basin National Park.

Additional information