Jabal Aja and Northern Ha'il (8258)
Saudi Arabia, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1c, D1a
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Jabal Aja and Northern Ha'il
Central coordinates: Latitude: 27.6667, Longitude: 41.6333
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 800 to 1550
Area of KBA (km2): 3227.79685
Protected area coverage (%): 71.10
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Jabal Aja (27°30'N 41°30'E, 200,000 ha) lies west and south-west of Ha'il city and is an extensive outcrop of granite mountains with deep valleys. The site is extended north-east to the edge of the Nafud Desert to include an area used for surveys of migrant Grus virgo (Jibal at-Tuwal and Dilan al-Jilf, 27°50'N 41°45'E, 200,000 ha)-an area of flattish semi-desert and sandstone hills, punctuated by medium-altitude granitic mountains with deep valleys. The climate is fairly benign (altitude 800-1,550 m), and the area is one of the greenest in northern Arabia; in wet springs the desert and sandstone hills bloom, and many ephemeral pools and lakes are formed. Valleys in granite mountains are often lined with many Acacia trees. Much of the crane survey area is under wheat cultivation by pivot irrigation systems.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: See box for key species. The site is crucially important for two species. It seems to lie at the centre of the spring flyway for the threatened African-wintering population of Grus virgo, and may be the best site for assessing the population size; flocks use both desert and agricultural habitats. Other breeding species include Tachymarptis melba (probable), Eremalauda dunni, Eremophila bilopha, Passer hispaniolensis, Rhodopechys obsoleta and R. githaginea. A wide range of raptors passes through in spring, and migration of swifts and passerines (especially larks, hirundines and wheatears) can be spectacular; migrants are attracted to agricultural areas in dry years, but otherwise prefer natural habitats. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: Felis margarita (K), Canis lupus (V) and Capra nubiana (I). Flora: the site is of high botanical interest. Reptiles and amphibians: the area may have functioned as a Pleistocene refuge during ice-ages.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | rangeland/pastureland | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 5 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 48 | |
| Desert | 48 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Jabal Aja is proposed as a Special Nature Reserve, Natural Reserve, Resource Use Reserve and Controlled Hunting Reserve, and establishment is proceeding. A management plan is being developed by local government, NCWCD and King Abdulaziz University, while NCWCD has established a monitoring programme for key species. The proximity of Jabal Aja to Ha'il city makes it popular for recreation, and there are threats from uncontrolled road and house building. Feral donkeys are present but probably affect bird populations relatively little. Semi-desert areas adjacent to agricultural zones are heavily grazed but seem able to recover after wet winters/springs.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Newton and Symens (1993), Newton et al. (1993), Symens et al. (1992).