Maqabah (8018)
Bahrain, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Maqabah
Central coordinates: Latitude: 26.2033, Longitude: 50.4875
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 2 to 5
Area of KBA (km2): 0.157
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: An inland, semi-arid, sandy desert site, with 60% cover of scattered date-palm Phoenix dactylifera scrub. Privately owned and currently left uncultivated, unlike nearby areas.
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.
Additional biodiversity: See box for key species. The palm scrub is the main roost-site for Hypocolius ampelinus in Bahrain. The birds feed in date-palm gardens elsewhere. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Delineation rationale: The IBA site includes the abandoned agricultural and open areas delineated by the nearby roads, farms and housing units.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (20%) | not utilised (80%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Some cutting of date-palm scrub and disturbance of Hypocolius roosts occurs locally. Lack of human disturbance is essential for roosts, but recently agricultural and housing development has intensified close to the site. The site has been proposed as a Wildlife Reserve.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |