Balcad Nature Reserve (6872)
Somalia, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2001

National site name: Balcad Nature Reserve

Central coordinates: Latitude: 2.2667, Longitude: 45.3167

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 100 to 100

Area of KBA (km²): 1.97813

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Balcad Nature Reserve is located on the eastern bank of the Shabeelle river, 35 km north of Muqdisho and immediately south of the town of Balcad. The site consists of one of the few patches of riverine forest remaining on the Shabeelle river and the surrounding scrub savanna. The principal trees of the riverine forest include Acacia elatior, Ficus sycamorus, Garcinia livingstonei, Mimusops fruticosa and Tamarindus indica, while the surrounding scrub consists of more stunted Acacia nilotica with a dense undergrowth of herbs and tall grasses. There is some grassland close to the river and much of the scrub lies on areas of sand-dunes.

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 Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Some 200 bird species have been recorded from the site. The only known individual of Laniarius liberatus was released from captivity here. Of the Somali–Masai biome species, Turdus tephronotus, Uraeginthus cyanocephalus and Ploceus dichrocephalus have been recorded nationally from few other IBAs. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

Habitats

Land use: nature conservation and research

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Balcad Nature Reserve was established by the Somali Ecological Society in 1985, at which time it covered an area of 42 ha, and was extended to 190 ha in 1987. The reserve included a field-centre. From 1985 to at least 1988 burning, cutting and grazing within the site were controlled and there were some signs of recovery of the forest and an increase in wildlife populations. The current situation is unknown.

Additional information