Metbassta (6939)
Tunisia, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2016

National site name: Metbassta

Central coordinates: Latitude: 35.7964, Longitude: 10.1407

Elevation (m): 65 to 65

Area of KBA (km²): 0.99952

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Metbassta is a small shallow wetland near Kairouan in the immediate vicinity of Kelbia (site TN020), to whose catchment it belongs. It is essentially fresh and may, like Oued Sed (site TN018), be fed by freshwater springs, as well as by the Oued Marguellil and the Oued Nebhana. It may dry out completely in summer.

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. It is also a wintering site for Casmerodius albus, Plegadis falcinellus, Phoenicopterus ruber, Anser anser, Tadorna tadorna, Anas penelope, A. clypeata, A. crecca, A. strepera, Aythya ferina and Fulica atra. The plains around the lake are used as a roosting site by Grus grus. Numenius tenuirostris was recorded here in November 1992. In addition, eight species of the Mediterranean North Africa biome (A01) have been recorded (see Table 2). Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

Habitats

Land use: hunting

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Wetlands(Inland)	100

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The site is a Hunting Reserve, but poaching occurs.

Additional information