Bandar Jussah (8225)
Oman, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Bandar Jussah
Central coordinates: Latitude: 23.5500, Longitude: 58.6500
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 30
Area of KBA (km2): 7.74559
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: An island and adjacent headland coastline south-east of Muscat. There are interesting archaeological sites of settlement in the proposed reserve, some more than 3,000 years old.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: See box for key species. Other breeding species include Phaethon aethereus (4–11 pairs). The terns Sterna breed only on the offshore island, but Falco concolor also nests on the mainland cliffs, uniquely in Oman. Non-bird biodiversity: Reptiles: sea-turtles Eretmochelys imbricata (E) and Chelonia mydas (E) nest on small beaches on the mainland.
Delineation rationale: Type 1 marine IBA: suitable for the seaward extension approach.
Habitats
Land use: tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 5 | |
| Desert | 5 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 90 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Collection of the terns' eggs for food by local people is a critical problem; instances of the entire colony being robbed have been recorded. The area is a proposed National Scenic Reserve.