Rufiji Delta (6995)
Tanzania, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: D1a

Year of last assessment: 2004

National site name: Rufiji Delta

Central coordinates: Latitude: -8.0000, Longitude: 39.4500

System: marine, terrestrial

Area of KBA (km²): 1258.59814

Protected area coverage (%): 92.37

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The Ruaha–Kilombero–Rufiji is the longest and largest river system in Tanzania, draining much of the southern highlands, southern areas of the central plateau and the coastal lowlands. The delta of the Rufiji river is the largest tidal mangrove wetland on the eastern coast of Africa. Mangroves cover an area of 54,500 ha within the delta, and are protected as the Mangrove-Rufiji Forest Reserves. Seven genera of mangrove occur, with Rhizophora, Avicennia and Heritiera dominant. There are several small settlements within the delta.

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 process of compiling the 2003 CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests Hotspot (which was later [in 2005] split into two Hotspots, the East Afromontane and the Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa). Species taxonomy and threat category was based on IUCN Red List 2002.

Additional biodiversity: See Box for key species. The avifauna of the delta is poorly known. The mangroves are probably a roosting site and feeding ground for tens of thousands of migrant waterbirds, but fieldwork is required to confirm this. A recent survey has added to earlier counts, which covered only around 10% of the delta area. Both counts revealed good numbers of waders including, in addition to those listed below, 2,366 Calidris minuta and 199 Charadrius asiaticus. Lamprotornis corruscus breeds almost exclusively in mangrove forest; in all six species of the East African Coast biome have been recorded (see Table 3). Non-bird biodiversity: None are known but the mammal Dugong dugon (VU) may still survive in some of the cleaner waters.

Delineation rationale: Type 2 marine IBA: non-breeding (coastal) congregations.

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | forestry | nature conservation and research | water management

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Shrubland	7
Forest	92

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There were proposals for a 10,000 ha prawn farm that would have effectively destroyed much of the natural habitat of the delta. It is anticipated that smaller proposals may now be brought forward which are still likely to damage the integrity of the site. Lamprotornis corruscus is dependent on mature trees for nest-holes. The frequent cutting of mangroves does not allow them to fully develop and the growing habit of cutting ‘dead’ trees for firewood further reduces habitat viability for this starling and other hole-nesting species such as Pogoniulus pusillus, Lybius melanopterus and Halcyon senegaloides. These mangroves are Forest Reserves, and are therefore protected by law; this needs much improved enforcement.

Additional information