Midi - Al-Luhayyah (8334)
Yemen, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Midi - Al-Luhayyah
Central coordinates: Latitude: 16.0000, Longitude: 42.8333
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 10
Area of KBA (km2): 403.05181
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
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.
Additional biodiversity: Other birds: Only known breeding area in Yemen for Collared Kingfisher, Clamorous Reed Warbler and probably Mangrove Reed Warbler. Other wildlife: Dugong dugon (Vulnerable) and Chelonia mydas (Endangered)
Delineation rationale: 2009-01-05 (BL Secretariat): the polygon is defined very roughly, according to the coordinates, site area and site description (altitude range, habitats and other features discernible in Google Earth), as given in the 1994 IBA book; in particular, the polygon extends inshore by c. 1 km and offshore by c. 2 km, on average (in order to match the 1994 site area of 300 km2).
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 45 | |
| Forest | 45 | |
| Desert | 5 | |
| Marine Neritic | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats: Pollution due to the fishermen's waste (especially plastic bags) and garbage deposit from ships; oil spillage from large ships; degradation of the mangrove ecosystem due to over-grazing by camels and wood-harvesting; increase in habitation along the Red Sea. In Midi and the nearby island of Al-Duwayyimah and in Al-Luhayyah there will be pilot projects to construct tourist villages and resorts which are planned for investment.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |