Sebkhet Sidi El Hani (6941)
Tunisia, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2016
National site name: Sebkhet Sidi El Hani
Central coordinates: Latitude: 35.5293, Longitude: 10.4233
Elevation (m): 0 to 50
Area of KBA (km2): 443.76386
Protected area coverage (%): 80.82
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site, the third-largest salt-lake in Tunisia, is located 25 km south-west of Sousse and 20 km east-south-east of Kairouan. It usually dries out in summer, but occasionally retains water all year. Salinity is very high and salt crystals sometimes remain on the substrate even when there is water in the lake. The vegetation is mainly halophytic with Arthrocnemum, Salicornia and Suaeda species as dominants.
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. The main importance of Sidi el Hani is that it is big enough in very wet years to provide security for Phoenicopterus ruber to nest on the uninhabited islands in the centre. Wintering Grus grus which feed on the surrounding plains may also roost on the water. In very wet years, the salinity of the water may decrease sufficiently to provide wintering habitat for other waterbirds. In addition, three 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: not utilised
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats include hunting and disturbance by feral dogs.
| 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 |
Additional information
References: Gaultier (1988a), Hamrouni (1999), Hughes et al. (1997), Thomsen and Jacobsen (1979).