Garaet Mabtouh (6922)
Tunisia, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2016
National site name: Garaet Mabtouh
Central coordinates: Latitude: 37.0333, Longitude: 9.9500
Elevation (m): 15 to 25
Area of KBA (km2): 20.58726
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Garaet Mabtouh is a freshwater marsh, situated some 20 km south of Bizerte, in the lower flood-plain of the Medjerda, Tunisia’s largest river (which rises in Algeria). Formerly, the whole of the flood-plain must have been a magnificent wetland, but most has now been reclaimed for agriculture, and Garaet Mabtouh is the only part which still floods. In dry winters the site is not flooded, but in wet seasons it can hold considerable numbers of waterbirds, no doubt originating at nearby Ichkeul.
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 for key species. Other species wintering at the site include Egretta garzetta, Ardea cinerea, Anas penelope, A. crecca, Circus aeruginosus, Fulica atra, Grus grus, Himantopus himantopus, Pluvialis apricaria and Vanellus vanellus. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Main threats are hunting, drainage and the effects of the use of pesticides.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Dams (size unknown) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Gaultier (1988a), Hughes et al. (1997), Pottier-Alapetite (1979, 1981).