Lake Kitangire (6989)
Tanzania, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: B1, D1a

Year of last assessment: 2001

National site name: Lake Kitangire

Central coordinates: Latitude: -4.1000, Longitude: 34.3000

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 1030 to 1030

Area of KBA (km²): 271.66821

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: This rather shallow lake occupies a depression along the Wembere river, at the extreme western end of the Mbulu Highlands and north of the small town of Sekenke, where the seasonal Manonga river flows in from the west. At high water the eastern edge of the lake abuts the foothills of the highlands, which rise to 1,587 m within a few kilometres of the lake. To the north, the lake overflows into the Sibiti river which enters Lake Eyasi (TZ023), 35 km to the north-east. The eastern shoreline shelves very gently with shallow water, exposed mud and short vegetation. There are stands of Aeschynomene, the extent of which is unclear. Belts of dense sedge that skirt the eastern shoreline are used for thatching and grazing and are extensively burnt each dry season. No information is available for the western side of the lake.

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.

Additional biodiversity: See Box for key species. The eastern shoreline is favoured by waterbirds with Glareola pratincola, Limosa limosa (>2,700), Philomachus pugnax, Calidris minuta, Plectropterus gambensis (>2,400), Phoenicopterus minor and Balearica regulorum (>100) amongst species recorded in 1995. Thousands of Riparia riparia and tens of thousands of Hirundo rustica feed along the foothills and over the lake shore. Discussions with local fishermen have indicated the presence of a large, mixed-species heronry in most years. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Wetlands(Inland)	49
Artificial - Terrestrial	23
Grassland	27

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: As with most inland fisheries, there are growing numbers of fishermen and complaints of reduced catches. Protection of the heronry during the breeding season is a high priority.

Additional information