Jabal Fayfa (8286)
Saudi Arabia, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Jabal Fayfa
Central coordinates: Latitude: 17.2580, Longitude: 43.0990
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 500 to 2000
Area of KBA (km2): 122.18318
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: An isolated steep-sided jabal on the western side of the Asir mountains (above 500 m). The temperate summit area (c.2,000 m) is heavily built up and cultivated, with Juniperus in parts too steep for terracing, as well as various broadleaved shrubs and bushes, Ficus and a few Dracaena trees, as well as introduced Eucalyptus and Opuntia. At lower altitudes Adenium obesum and Commiphora occur. The western slopes have considerable rainfall but there is very little permanent water on the summit area and supplies for crops are brought up by bowser.
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. KBA identified in the process of compiling the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the East Afromontane Hotspot. Species taxonomy and threat category was based on IUCN Red List 2010-4. The site holds a significant population of the following plant species which, although not yet Red-List-assessed at the global level, are endemic to the Hotspot (those with particularly restricted ranges are tagged with Irr1, i.e. meeting the KBA Irreplaceability 1 criterion) and may be categorised as globally threatened once assessed (thus meeting the KBA Vulnerability criterion), based on existing regional or national Red List assessments: Abrus bottae, Albuca pendula, Cichorium bottae, Cynoglossum bottae, Pimpinella menachensis.
Additional biodiversity: The mountain and its foothills hold c.70 breeding species. See box for key species; other breeding species include Terathopius ecaudatus, Melierax metabates, Falco pelegrinoides, Streptopelia lugens, Treron waalia, Cypsiurus parvus, Halcyon leucocephala, Merops albicollis, Coracias abyssinica, Tockus nasutus, Anthus similis, Oenanthe bottae, Monticola rufocinereus, Phylloscopus umbrovirens, Muscicapa gambagae, Anthreptes metallicus, Nectarinia habessinica, N. osea, Zosterops abyssinicus, Tchagra senegala, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster and Emberiza tahapisi. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: the only Saudi Arabian site for several small species. Reptiles: the only Saudi Arabian site for several species, including Varanus yemenensis (endemic). Flora: the site is of very high botanical interest; features include a grove of the tree Mimusops laurifolia (rare), the largest trees in Saudi Arabia.
Delineation rationale: 2013-07-10 (BL Secretariat): the published (1994) site extent of 5000 ha has been increased to 12,000 ha (as measured in GIS from the most recent boundary polygon [created by Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh], rounded to nearest 10%).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 5 | |
| Shrubland | 48 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 48 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The grove of Mimusops laurifolia has been scheduled as a site of special interest by the NCWCD, but the mountain is otherwise unprotected. Urban development is continuing on the summit area. There is little or no grazing on the mountain, and the dry, scrub-covered eastern side seems not to be threatened.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: Data-sheets compiled by P. Symens and M. C. Jennings.