Kawkaban - Shibam (8338)
Yemen, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Kawkaban - Shibam
Central coordinates: Latitude: 15.5040, Longitude: 43.8870
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 2600 to 3000
Area of KBA (km2): 86.46409
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
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) 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: Crinum album (Irr1), Delosperma harazianum, Dianthus uniflorus.
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. 2013-07-10 (BL Secretariat): coordinates adjusted and site extent of 5000 ha has been updated to 8600 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 | rangeland/pastureland | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 32 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 32 | |
| Grassland | 32 | |
| Shrubland | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats: A new asphalt road has been constructed half-way up the mountain on the eastern side. As a result ribbon-development has started with a few cafes and tea houses, mainly targeted at qat chewers from Sana’a. The location of one cafeteria is near the habitat of Arabian Accentor and other endemic birds. A large hotel is under construction.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |