Xawaadley reservoir (6870)
Somalia, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2001

National site name: Xawaadley reservoir

Central coordinates: Latitude: 2.5833, Longitude: 45.5000

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 100 to 100

Area of KBA (km²): 28.02114

KBA classification: Regional

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The site includes Xawaadley (Hawadley) reservoir, an artificial wetland on the Shabeelle river and the adjacent seasonal swamps, pools, woodland and thicket. It is situated to the south of the town of Jowhar, immediately north-west of Jowhar–Warshiikh (site SO015). The reservoir was completed in 1980 and is used at times of water shortage to increase downstream irrigation. It covers an area of 10,800 ha and has a circumference of just over 44 km. The eastern and western sides of the reservoir are bounded by natural slopes. The water reaches a depth of more than 3 m through which the tops of dead Acacia trees and bushes protrude. The shallows have been colonized by Phragmites and Typha spp. and floating vegetation grows across much of the surface area.

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: See Box and Table 3 for key species. In addition to those listed below there is a February count of 1,000 Ardeola ralloides. There have been no complete counts of the reservoir, but an assessment of only ‘a small percentage’ of the reservoir produced a figure of 10,300 birds, implying that total numbers must have been substantially larger. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

Habitats

Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | water management

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The reservoir supports a productive fishery, the effects of which on the birds are unknown.

Additional information