Wadi Halfa (6800)
Sudan, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Wadi Halfa
Central coordinates: Latitude: 21.9167, Longitude: 31.3167
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 185 to 185
Area of KBA (km2): 234.35753
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Wadi Halfa is located in the north of Sudan close to the border with Egypt, on the east bank of Lake Nubia (as the southern, Sudanese, part of Lake Nasser is known). The site is located south of the town of Wadi Halfa and comprises an area of lake margin where the flora is dominated by Tamarix nilotica, and adjacent, largely barren, rocky desert. The site is adjacent to the Egyptian IBA of Lake Nasser (EG014).
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 2 for key species. One species characteristic of the Sahel biome (A03) is also thought to occur (see Table 2). There is little information on waterbirds using Lake Nubia, but it is possible that some species will be found to exceed thresholds; Rhynchops flavirostris has been reported in the past in large numbers and was suspected of breeding. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Part of the site has been proposed as a protected area.
Additional information
References: Hughes and Hughes (1992), Pettet et al. (1964), WCMC (1998).