National Wildlife Research Center and environs, Taif (8274)
Saudi Arabia, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: National Wildlife Research Center and environs, Taif
Central coordinates: Latitude: 21.2500, Longitude: 40.7000
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1400 to 1450
Area of KBA (km2): 38.7982
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Fairly flat, sandy/gravelly desert fringe at 1,450 m on the edge of the north-east Asir foothills, c.40 km south-east of Taif. There are a few gneiss inselbergs and dry wadis. The site is a fenced captive breeding centre, and the previously overgrazed vegetation is rapidly recovering to grassland and scrub bushland. Wadis just outside the boundary fence have many Acacia iraqensis trees and one has been dammed with some water usually present. Large semi-natural enclosures contain ungulates or are ungrazed.
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. Large numbers of Chlidonias leucopterus have occurred at the dam on migration (seasonal total 26,000; see box). Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Delineation rationale: 2009-10-12 (BL Secretariat): Relatively straightforward to digitize (fenced boundary of Center is clearly visible); boundary extended southwards to incorporate some apparently well-wooded wadis outside the Center (following 1994 site description -- though not sure if these are exactly the correct wadis).
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research | rangeland/pastureland
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Aquatic | 5 | |
| Shrubland | 48 | |
| Grassland | 48 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Virtually the only threat is that the Center's 'green island' character renders it vulnerable to locust plagues, which only occur irregularly and infrequently. The surrounding area is seriously overgrazed, with attendant spread of the exotic weed Argemone mexicana, and a new camel farm has caused considerable damage to the Acacia iraqensis woodland used by Dendrocopos dorae.
Additional information
References: Newton and Newton (1993), Schulz and Schulz (1992), Symens (1989). Also monthly, quarterly and annual reports are available at the National Wildlife Research Center (Taif) and the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (Riyadh).