Al-Kadan area (8342)
Yemen, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Al-Kadan area
Central coordinates: Latitude: 15.0370, Longitude: 43.2235
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 150 to 300
Area of KBA (km2): 325.9854
Protected area coverage (%): 16.15
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This IBA is extended south to Bajil to include the agricultural land and the new Bajil Sewage Lagoons: four large concrete lined settlement talks in a largely agricultural area. Recently created (in last few years). Visited frequently since Evans (1994), on two occasions to search for satellite-tagged Northern Bald Ibis on migration as signals were received from the Bajil area. Last visited in 2011.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: The rubbish dump at Bajil is an important feeding spot for eagles, vultures and storks. The new sewage lagoons are a resting and feeding site for Common and Demoiselle Cranes and is likely to be a site used by Northern Bald Ibis in passage (as was the case with the Taizz sewage lagoons in the 1980s).
Delineation rationale: 2009-01-05 (BL Secretariat): the polygon is defined very roughly, according to the site area and site description (altitude range, habitats and other features discernible in Google Earth), as given in the 1994 IBA book; the 1994 coordinates lie near the edge of this polygon, so have been shifted to the centre of the polygon.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Includes agricultural land south to Bajil and the new Bajil Sewage Lagoons: four large concrete lined settlement talks in a largely agricultural area.
Land use: agriculture | rangeland/pastureland
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 | |
| Shrubland | 45 | |
| Savanna | 5 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 45 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats: In the Al-Kadan area, there is major problem with cutting the endemic Acacia, known as Salam to make high quality charcoal. This is used to burn incense for the Sheesha (water pipe) because there are no impurities and it doesn’t produce smoke or smells - only fire. There is high demand for it. Hunting of the Arabian Bustard is a potential threat; the likely extent of this is not known.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Ongoing |