Tanga North - Kibo saltpans (6998)
Tanzania, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2004

National site name: Tanga North - Kibo saltpans

Central coordinates: Latitude: -4.8167, Longitude: 39.1667

System: marine, terrestrial

Area of KBA (km²): 1.41549

Protected area coverage (%): 57.25

KBA classification: Regional

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: This series of saltpans is situated to the south-west of Moa village, north of Tanga. They are typical of hundreds of small-scale salt-workings along the Tanzanian coast. They rely on solar evaporation in an area of relatively high rainfall and are therefore rather inefficient for salt production. There is a corresponding lack of capital investment and much of the site is relatively neglected and undisturbed.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard. 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. Little is known about the site; the only data available come from a January 1995 waterbird survey. This survey also recorded 1,550 Calidris ferruginea. More information is needed to assess how frequently such numbers occur and the extent to which the saltpans are utilized. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

Habitats

Land use: urban/industrial/transport

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: No threats are known.

Additional information