Mahwit (8339)
Yemen, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Mahwit
Central coordinates: Latitude: 15.4960, Longitude: 43.5970
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 670 to 1900
Area of KBA (km2): 91.90732
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: Pimpinella menachensis, Plectranthus asirensis, Saponaria umbricola, Senecio harazianus, Verbascum bottae.
Delineation rationale: 2009-01-05 (BL Secretariat): the polygon is defined very roughly, according to the site area and site description in the 1994 IBA book; the 1994 coordinates lie outside this polygon, so have been shifted to the centre of this polygon. 2013-07-10 (BL Secretariat): coordinates adjusted and site extent of 2500 ha has been updated to 9200 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 48 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 5 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 48 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats: impacted by the building of a new road that has opened up the area and a huge hotel complex is under construction in Al-Rayadi park - beside the cliff of the Griffon Vulture colony.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Only in the future |