Al-Wajh Bank (8263)
Saudi Arabia, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, D1a
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Al-Wajh Bank
Central coordinates: Latitude: 25.5833, Longitude: 36.7500
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 70
Area of KBA (km2): 3854.74106
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A group of northern Red Sea islands lying off the coast between al-Wajh and Umm Lajj, with a mixture of rocky or sandy, and vegetated (mangrove Avicennia and salt-tolerant bushes Salicornia) or barren habitats. There are some low cliffs of less than 5 m, and seagrass beds offshore.
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 islands are important for their breeding population of Falco concolor (see box) and probably for their breeding seabirds (which are very little-known, however) including Sula leucogaster (100+ pairs, August/September 1982), Sterna caspia (3+ pairs, February) and S. bengalensis; Pandion haliaetus (106 birds) and Sterna anaethetus have been seen in October and may breed. The site is of low value for wintering waterbirds. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: Dugong dugon (V). Reptiles: sea-turtles (globally threatened) nest.
Delineation rationale: 2014-01-28 (BL Secretariat): after adoption of 2010 NCWCD_Proposed polygon for this site, area changed from 288000 ha to 486600 ha.
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 5 | |
| Desert | 5 | |
| Forest | 5 | |
| Marine Neritic | 85 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: No threats are known, but there have been no proper surveys of breeding seabirds, and collection of seabird eggs probably occurs. The site is proposed as a Resource Use Reserve in the NCWCD System Plan for Protected Areas. Summer surveys for breeding seabirds are urgently needed.
Additional information
References: Evans (1987).