Key Biodiversity Areas

Islands off Bir Ali (8363)
Yemen, Middle East

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 1994
National site name: Islands off Bir Ali
Central coordinates: Latitude: 13.9317, Longitude: 48.3883
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 30
Area of KBA (km2): 4.05154
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)
Delineation rationale: Type 1 marine IBA: suitable for the seaward extension approach. Type 2 marine IBA: non-breeding (coastal) congregations. 2009-01-05 (BL Secretariat): each island has been enclosed by a polygon extending c. 300 m offshore; the 1994 coordinates lie outside any of these polygons, so have been shifted to the centre of the largest island.

Habitats


IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Marine Neritic5
Marine Coastal/Supratidal5
Desert90

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats: Taking of young Socotra Cormorants for food has been reported. There is a trade in guano but this is not considered to be a threat.
Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
Human intrusions & disturbanceWork & other activitiesOngoing