Um Badr lake (6805)
Sudan, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2001

National site name: Um Badr lake

Central coordinates: Latitude: 14.2500, Longitude: 27.8333

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 600 to 600

Area of KBA (km²): 31.21504

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Um Badr Lake lies in sparsely vegetated country on the southern fringes of the Sahara desert, between the towns of El Obeid and El Fasher. The lake lies in a basin of rocky hills and high dunes of reddish sands. The lake basin is sparsely vegetated with Acacia arabica, A. albida, A. seyal, A. tortilis and Balanites aegyptica, while A. mellifera, Leptadenia pyrotechnica and grasses Aristida spp. predominate in the surrounding hills and dunes. Following rains, when it is c.6 km long by 2 km wide, the lake overflows from the northern end of the basin into Wadi El Milk. During drier periods the lake shrinks and becomes divided in two. Average annual rainfall is c.200 mm. The IBA includes the lake and the basin of rocky hills in which it sits.

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. The site lies on the border between the Sahara–Sindian (A02) and the Sahel (A03) biomes. In addition, one species characteristic of the Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome (A04) has been recorded (see Table 2). It is also important as a staging-post for migrant waterbirds and passerines. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

Habitats

Land use: agriculture

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks)	60
Desert	39

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Large herds of domestic camels as well as sheep, goats and cattle water at the lake; overgrazing may, therefore, pose a threat.

Additional information