Lagunes de Korba (6931)
Tunisia, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2016
National site name: Lagunes de Korba
Central coordinates: Latitude: 36.6147, Longitude: 10.8907
Elevation (m): 0 to 2
Area of KBA (km2): 3.77132
Protected area coverage (%): 64.07
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site is a narrow coastal lagoon located between the towns of Korba and Menzel Temime, on the eastern coast of the Cap Bon peninsula. It is 12 km long, but never exceeds 400 m in width. It is the largest surviving lagoon of a chain which used to extend all along the eastern shore of the Cap Bon peninsula, several of which have dried up because of agricultural use of groundwater. Water-levels are quite deep in winter, because of winter rainfall, but most dry out in summer; the Korba lagoons remain wet even in summer because they receive treated waste-water from the town and the organic outflow from canning factories. The seaward shoreline supports a dune vegetation comprising Ammophila arenaria, Erygium maritimum and Euphorbia paralias. The edges of the lagoon itself support a halophytic vegetation, including Arthrophytum and Salicornia species.
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. Given the site’s situation directly on the path of birds migrating between Africa and Europe, it is a key stop-over site for migrants in spring and autumn (when it is one of the few wetland sites which regularly hold water). A wide variety of waterbirds occur, especially herons, waders, gulls and terns, including Ardea cinerea, Egretta garzetta, Phoenicopterus ruber, Tadorna tadorna, Marmaronetta angustirostris (40–100 birds on passage), Anas platyrhynchos, A. clypeata, A. acuta, Calidris minuta, Himantopus himantopus (up to 250 pairs breed), Charadrius dubius, C. alexandrinus and Recurvirostra avosetta. Non-bird biodiversity: None are known to BirdLife International.
Habitats
Land use: hunting | urban/industrial/transport
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Although the site is designated a Hunting Reserve, illegal hunting occurs. Other threats include pollution caused by effluent from the town of Korba and human disturbance. The lagoon is one of the main sites included in the Medwet coastal project.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Only in the future |
Additional information
References: Gaultier (1986, 1987b, 1988a), Hughes et al. (1997), Karem et al. (1997), Maamouri (1995), Meininger et al. (1994), Ministère de l’Agriculture, Direction Générale des Forêts (2000).