Al Batinah coast (8220)
Oman, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Al Batinah coast
Central coordinates: Latitude: 24.0500, Longitude: 57.0333
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 5
Area of KBA (km2): 59.05625
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: About 300 km of exposed, sand beach coast facing the Gulf of Oman, extending from As Seeb north-westwards to Shinas. Khawrs (creeks) frequently occur at the mouths of drainage lines; most are transitory, appearing and disappearing according to the occurrence of strong tides and wadi-floods. (The following major khawrs occur within this area, but are dealt with separately due to their ornithological importance -- Kalba, Shinas, Liwa, Ra's/Juzor as Sawadi and Al Qurm -- sites 003, 004, 008 and 010 respectively.)
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. Important numbers of waterbirds occur in winter, especially large numbers of Calidris alba and roosting gulls and terns; the latter often concentrate at the small khawrs. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Delineation rationale: Type 2 marine IBA: non-breeding (coastal) congregations.
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | nature conservation and research (1%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 50 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Khawr Kashmir is maintained as a bird sanctuary by the Office of the Adviser for the Conservation of the Environment of the Diwan of Royal Court. There are seven proposed Nature Conservation Areas within this site, totalling 860 ha: three National Nature Reserves, three National Resource Reserves, and one National Scenic Reserve.