Lake Tlawi (7000)
Tanzania, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: D1a

Year of last assessment: 2001

National site name: Lake Tlawi

Central coordinates: Latitude: -3.9000, Longitude: 35.4667

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 1800 to 1800

Area of KBA (km²): 2.09996

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: This highland freshwater lake is situated south of Mbulu town on the road to Dongobesh in the Mbulu Highlands, to the west of the Nou Forest. It was formed naturally by the blocking of a stream flowing westwards from Nou Forest to the Yaida Chini swamps that lie to the south-east of Lake Eyasi (TZ023).

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 only recent data available for this site are from January 1996, when records included a large flock of Fulica cristata, 104 Ardeola ralloides and 1,535 Chlidonias leucopterus. This lake seems to be one of few that may be important for the East African population of Fulica cristata. Historically, Moreau mentioned some dozens of Podiceps cristatus, but this is now a very rare bird in East Africa. There are historical records of Oxyura maccoa which probably bred. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: This lake is virtually all that remains of a series of freshwater lakes, ponds and permanent swamps that were, until recently, a feature of the Mbulu Highlands. The draining, siltation, over-fishing and general degradation of these wetlands for cultivation and cattle-rearing during the last few decades is a clear example of what unregulated use can do to areas outside the protected-area network. The drastic reduction in the population of Podiceps cristatus and Oxyura maccoa in both Tanzania and Kenya is a strong indication that highland freshwater habitats are declining at an alarming rate. A wise-use policy needs to be developed at the local level to try and save the remaining habitats, especially those of considerable conservation importance such as Lake Tlawi.

Additional information