Qurm Nature Reserve (8224)
Oman, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Al Qurm
Central coordinates: Latitude: 23.6167, Longitude: 58.4667
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 10
Area of KBA (km2): 1.015897
Protected area coverage (%): 91.73
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Two rather deep and narrow tidal inlets at the mouth of Wadi Adai, within the city of Muscat, with well-developed mangrove Avicennia and large, sandy expanses of salt-tolerant bushes in between. There is a rocky cliff on the east side.
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. Fair numbers of waterbirds occur on passage and during winter, including Ardea purpurea (70, September). At least 172 species have been recorded. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Delineation rationale: 2010-01-18 (BL Secretariat): 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: nature conservation and research (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | 5 | |
| Marine Neritic | 5 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 45 | |
| Forest | 45 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area is bounded by a wall-cum-fence. The proposed Qurm–Fahal National Nature Reserve (1,000 ha) covers both this site and the island of Jazirat al Fahl (site 009) close offshore.