Al-'Urj (8343)
Yemen, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Al-'Urj
Central coordinates: Latitude: 15.0517, Longitude: 42.8683
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 10
Area of KBA (km2): 17.23423
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A formerly undisturbed 15-km-stretch of coast, with a wide variety of natural habitats in a small area.
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: See table for key species. The mangrove and doum palms support an interesting breeding avifauna, including Butorides striatus, Milvus migrans, Pandion haliaetus (1 pair), Cypsiurus parvus, Acrocephalus stentoreus (probably), A. baeticatus (probably), Ploceus rueppelli and Lonchura cantans. A very wide variety of coastal waterbirds occur on passage and in winter (a few in good numbers though there have never been any comprehensive counts) including Pelecanus rufescens (90, April) and Sterna bengalensis (300, October). Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals: dolphins (probably including Tursiops) are frequent offshore; Genetta felina (rare). Reptiles: Chelonia mydas (E) is common offshore, and Dermochelys coriacea (E) has been recorded; other sea-turtle species probably also occur.
Delineation rationale: Type 1 marine IBA: suitable for the seaward extension approach. 2009-01-05 (BL Secretariat): the polygon follows the 15-km stretch of coast, as defined in the 1994 IBA book, extending approximately 0.5 km offshore and 0.5 km inland (on average); the 1994 coordinates lie well outside this polygon, so have been shifted to its centre.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: A steep sand beach dominates the area, backed mainly by sand-dunes and a few stretches of sabkhah. The beach is broken by a tidal inlet c.5 km south of the fishing village of Al-'Urj, at the pseudo-mouth of a wadi, and is backed here by a raised alluvial silt/gravel plain with associated 3+ m-high coastal cliffs, well-developed mangrove (5-10 ha), intertidal mud/sandflats and a sand barrier-beach. Offshore there is a fringing coral reef and seagrass beds are moderately common. The substantial seepage of fresh groundwater at the tidal inlet feeds several brackish wells and small ponds and supports an extensive coastal fringe of doum palm Hyphaene and date palm Phoenix groves/scrub (c.200 ha) as well as Odyssea/Aeluropus spiny-grass pastures on the sabkhah by the tidal inlet. The coastal, silt plain is sparsely vegetated with Suaeda dwarf-shrubland, grading into sparse Panicum grassland further inland. The main human activity is fishing, but the area is also regularly used for recreation/camping; in 1990 there were plans to build a tourist hotel. The mangrove-lined tidal inlet is probably important as a spawning ground and nursery area for shrimps/prawns and fish, and the doum palm woodland is highly valued by local fisherfolk for building/thatching material. The mangrove and spiny-grass flats are grazed by goats and camels.
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | rangeland/pastureland | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 14 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 29 | |
| Shrubland | 13 | |
| Forest | 1 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 29 | |
| Desert | 14 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: It is not known whether the planned hotel has been built, and if so, to what extent destruction of habitat, depletion of freshwater supply, pollution through waste disposal, and excessive disturbance of birds has been avoided. Campers' fires have burned down areas of the Hyphaene palm woodland locally. Updates. Threats: a recreation area and much disturbance at times; there have been plans to build a hotel.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |