Wadi Jawwah (8288)
Saudi Arabia, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Wadi Jawwah
Central coordinates: Latitude: 16.9458, Longitude: 43.0300
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 180 to 450
Area of KBA (km2): 63.90118
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Wadi Jawwah lies at 100-300 m in the foothills east of Abu Arish and south of al-Arida, inland from Jizan. It consists of a sandy and clay bed surrounded by often steep volcanic rocky slopes, and there is a small artificial dam, behind which lies a small lake for most of the year. Scattered Dobera and Ficus trees dominate the landscape and there are many remnant patches of Acacia and Salvadora scrub. The rocky outcrops and bordering slopes are only sparsely vegetated with Acacia and succulents but can have a surprising cover of grasses after heavy rain. The wadi is densely populated and most of it is cultivated with sorghum and millet.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: See box for key species. The wadi has one of the highest diversities of breeding species known in Arabia, some in the highest densities known in the country, including Terathopius ecaudatus, Coturnix delegorguei, Numida meleagris (the single most important site in Saudi Arabia: c.350 birds in 1988 and over 1,000 in 1990), Burhinus capensis, Streptopelia roseogrisea, Treron waalia, Centropus superciliosus, Bubo africanus, Caprimulgus inornatus, Halcyon leucocephala, Merops albicollis, Coracias abyssinica, Tockus nasutus, Anthreptes metallicus, Tchagra senegala, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster and Emberiza tahapisi. The lake has breeding Tachybaptus ruficollis, and wintering waterbirds have included Plegadis falcinellus (72). There is a colony of 1,200-1,500 pairs of Bubulcus ibis 50 km to the south at Tuwal, nearby but outside the site. There is a strong autumn migration of raptors, including Circaetus gallicus (18), Buteo buteo vulpinus (975), Aquila nipalensis (650) and Hieraaetus pennatus (12). Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Delineation rationale: 2009-10-12 (BL Secretariat): Polygon extends from Malaki Dam IBA in the north, southwards to Jawwah village, and then continues by the same distance again to the south of the village; surrounding slopes and hills are included; this results in the polygon being larger than stated area, and the stated min/max altitudes (100-300 m) seem too low compared to the polygon (180-450 m), therefore they have been corrected; similarly the coordinates have been shifted from outside the polygon to the centre of the polygon.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | rangeland/pastureland | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Savanna | 45 | |
| Artificial - Aquatic | 5 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 | |
| Shrubland | 45 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The local Emir traditionally protects Numida meleagris against hunting and, more recently, against egg-collecting. The rapidly rising population is leading to increased pressure on natural scrubland for agricultural development; there is heavy grazing by goats and camels, as well as wood gathering. The site is proposed as a Special Nature Reserve, Natural Reserve, Biological Reserve and Resource Use Reserve in the NCWCD System Plan for Protected Areas, and was proposed for declaration in 1991, but this has been frozen.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |