Khor Kalba (8217)
Oman, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Khawr Kalba
Central coordinates: Latitude: 24.9750, Longitude: 56.3667
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 5
Area of KBA (km2): 0.55502
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A tidal inlet on the Oman/UAE border on the northern Batinah coast, lined with extensive mangrove Avicennia. Most of the site is in the UAE, but the southern end extends into Oman at Khatmat Milahah.
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. Todirhamphus chloris kalbaensis is resident, and endangered due to its total dependence on the mangrove habitat. Hippolais rama probably breeds. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Delineation rationale: 2010-01-18 (BL Secretariat): Coordinates and international site name adjusted to match the gazetteer in: Eriksen, J. and Sargeant, D. E. (2000) Oman bird list, edition 5. Muscat: Oman Bird Records Committee (privately published).
Habitats
Land use: forestry | rangeland/pastureland | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 5 | |
| Forest | 48 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 48 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Despite the efforts of the local municipality, garbage dumping occurs in some khawrs. Awareness efforts or other measures will be intensified in the future to prevent tree-cutting, land-claim and disturbance of birds.
Additional information
References: Cowles (1980).