Barrage Masri (6932)
Tunisia, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2016

National site name: Barrage Masri

Central coordinates: Latitude: 36.5303, Longitude: 10.4830

Elevation (m): 20 to 200

Area of KBA (km²): 0.77719

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Masri reservoir is, unlike the Cap Bon reservoirs, being constructed for water-supply to the national grid rather than local irrigation. It is situated quite high up in the Dorsale and flanked by mountains which reach 660 m, to the west of the town of Grombalia, south-east of Tunis. The shores are lined with vegetation composed mainly of Phragmites communis, Typha angustifolia and Juncus species. The mountain slopes are clothed in a forest of Tetraclinis articulata.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. 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. Though the reservoir is small, it holds Oxyura leucocephala (10–50 pairs), while breeding species include Podiceps cristatus and Tachybaptus ruficollis. Wintering waterbirds include Aythya ferina and Fulica atra. Non-bird biodiversity: The mammal Hyaena hyaena (LR/nt) has been recorded from the mountains around the site.

Habitats

Land use: water management

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats include hunting and human disturbance.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Recreational activities		Ongoing

Additional information