Khawr Ghawi (8237)
Oman, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Khawr Ghawi
Central coordinates: Latitude: 18.5667, Longitude: 56.6333
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 5
Area of KBA (km2): 6.06815
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A 6-km-long tidal inlet parallel to the coast, open to the sea at the northern end and protected by a long, sandy barrier beach, with extensive intertidal mudflats and minimal build-up of fresh water. The site is sheltered by dunes with much shrubby salt-tolerant vegetation, otherwise the surroundings are very flat and sandy. Human population density is generally low in the region, although the small, new township of Al Kahil is nearby. People fish offshore for local markets, and there may be some recreational use by expatriates from southern oil-fields.
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. The site supports far greater numbers of wintering and passage waterbirds than any khawr further south in Oman. Other notable wintering species include Platalea leucorodia (max. 110), Phoenicopterus ruber (1,500, November), Pandion haliaetus (21, February), Recurvirostra avosetta (104), Calidris ferruginea (3,000, December) and Arenaria interpres (234). The site is rather underwatched due to its remoteness. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Delineation rationale: Type 2 marine IBA: non-breeding (coastal) congregations.
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | 5 | |
| Marine Neritic | 5 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 90 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area is part of the proposed South Jazir National Nature Reserve (18,000 ha) which is part of the proposed natural World Heritage Site (see also sites 019 and 021).