Bab al-Mandab - Mawza (8355)
Yemen, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Bab al-Mandab - Mawza
Central coordinates: Latitude: 12.9000, Longitude: 43.5833
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 100
Area of KBA (km2): 1016.21607
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: The coastal wetlands hold many waterbirds and a full survey is recommended
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 boundary extends about 1 km offshore; the 1994 coordinates lie outside this polygon, so have been shifted to its centre.
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | military | rangeland/pastureland
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 43 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 5 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 5 | |
| Grassland | 43 | |
| Marine Neritic | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats: a strategic high way has been constructed along the Red Sea passing by Bab al-Mandab to Aden through the Gulf of Aden. So far the birds are landing away from the asphalt but this could become a problem in future when traffic increases. There is much falcon trapping every autumn. Other threats include pollution and degradation in the mangrove ecosystem, overgrazing by camels and wood harvesting; also depositing of garbage from land boats and ships. The universal problem posed by discarded plastic bags is very evident at this site.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Only in the future |