En Nahud (6807)
Sudan, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: En Nahud
Central coordinates: Latitude: 12.5000, Longitude: 28.5000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 600 to 600
Area of KBA (km2): 24893.14508
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This site is situated around the town of En Nahud, south-west of El Obeid. It is an area of old fixed red sand-dunes (‘goz’ soil), vegetated principally with shrubs and scattered trees in which Acacia senegal is dominant. The limits of this habitat are clearly defined by an abrupt change in soil-type and an accompanying change in vegetation; Acacia senegal disappears and Dalbergia melanoxylon becomes common. Although the limits of the IBA remain undefined, it includes the area west and south of En Nahud to Ghubeish and El Odaiya, and east towards El Obeid.
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. Flocks of up to, and sometimes exceeding, 100 Falco naumanni overwinter; the species is particularly abundant in years when tree locusts Anacridium spp., which feed almost exclusively on Acacia senegal, are common. Circus macrourus also winters commonly in the area. Of particular interest is Mirafra cordofanica, a Sahel biome species which is restricted to grassy openings in bushy areas on ‘goz’ soil. It is one of the commonest birds in the area. One species characteristic of the Sahara–Sindian biome (A02) and three of the Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome (A04) have also been recorded (see Table 2). Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Delineation rationale: 2010-02-03 (BL Secretariat): site area was not defined in the original IBA publication/inventory; here, it has been derived by GIS from the draft polygon.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | hunting
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 98 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Bustards suffer a heavy hunting pressure in the area and Ardeotis arabs is likely to be under severe pressure. Clearance of woodland habitats and overgrazing are so far restricted to relatively small areas around En Nahud itself and the other major settlements in the area.