Snam (6958)
Tunisia, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Snam
Central coordinates: Latitude: 33.4667, Longitude: 9.1000
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 30 to 50
Area of KBA (km2): 1.54372
Protected area coverage (%): 66.75
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Snam is a small reed-fringed lake, 10 km west of Douz alongside the road to Noueil. It is fed by water which runs off from the nearby oasis. Water depth is up to 1 m in winter, but in summer this wetland diminishes in size significantly. The vegetation is composed of Phragmites communis, Tamarix africana and Juncus 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)
Additional biodiversity: See Box for key species. See under Ghidma (site TN042) for the ornithological importance of the small oasis wetlands near Douz. This site, with Ghidma, is probably the most important of these small oasis wetlands, and is one of the most important sites in Tunisia for wintering Marmaronetta angustirostris and for other Palearctic ducks. The abundance of the reeds also makes this a good breeding site for a number of species. Tachybaptus ruficollis, Nycticorax nycticorax, Ixobrychus minutus, Aythya nyroca and Rallus aquaticus have all been recorded in July. In addition, six Sahara–Sindian biome species have been recorded (see Table 2). Non-bird biodiversity: The ungulate Gazella dorcas (VU) has been recorded.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The major threats are intensive hunting and the harvesting of reeds.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Only in the future |
Additional information
References: Gaultier (1988a), Hughes et al. (1997).