Aqueduc de Zaghouan (6930)
Tunisia, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2016
National site name: Aqueduc de Zaghouan
Central coordinates: Latitude: 36.6342, Longitude: 10.1302
Elevation (m): 5 to 30
Area of KBA (km2): 0.06175
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site is a Roman aqueduct, situated 17 km south of Tunis, which used to form part of the Zaghouan to Carthage water-supply system. It consists of a series of 20-m-high pillars and arches in which many cavities and holes have developed. The site, which crosses the valley of the Miliana river, is surrounded by wheat fields.
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) KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Mediterranean Hotspot (2017). Taxonomy, nomenclature and global threat category follow the 2016 IUCN Red List.
Additional biodiversity: See Box for key species. The cavities and holes in the aqueduct are used as nesting and roosting sites by Falco naumanni (30 pairs), F. biarmicus, F. tinnunculus, Coracias garrulus, Petronia petronia, Sturnus unicolor and Corvus corax. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | hunting
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The surrounding area is a Hunting Reserve and the aqueduct is protected as an archaeological monument. The widespread use of pesticides in the areas where the raptors feed is a cause for concern.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Herbicides and pesticides | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Gaultier (1988a), Ministère de l’Agriculture, Direction Générale des Forêts (2000).