Kubbar island (8210)
Kuwait, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Kubbar island
Central coordinates: Latitude: 29.0718, Longitude: 48.4925
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 5
Area of KBA (km2): 0.28507
Protected area coverage (%): 47.95
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: One of a small group of coral islets and associated reefs. Part of the island is covered in salt-tolerant bushes, other areas are dominated by Seidlitzia annuals, and there are patches of bare ground. Beaches are mainly sandy with some rocky stretches. A favourite recreational area for weekend trippers, scuba divers and fishermen. A small solar energy plant provides power for a beacon in the centre of the island.
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. An important breeding colony for Sterna bengalensis and Sterna anaethetus. Also breeding are Sterna repressa and Sterna bergii (min. 7 pairs). Non-bird biodiversity: Reptiles: a former nesting area for the sea-turtles Chelonia mydas (E) and Eretmochelys imbricata (E).
Delineation rationale: Type 1 marine IBA: suitable for the seaward extension approach.
Habitats
Land use: tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 5 | |
| Marine Neritic | 5 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 90 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Disturbance and wilful killing are major problems at the seabird colonies. The island was included in a Marine Park proposed by the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research in 1988, and included together with several submerged coral reefs in the draft Nature Conservation Act submitted by the Environment Protection Council.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |