Jabal Ma'alah / Ma'alah Plateau, Socotra (8369)
Yemen, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B1, B2
Year of last assessment: 2016
National site name: Jabal Ma'alah / Ma'alah Plateau, Socotra
Central coordinates: Latitude: 12.6333, Longitude: 53.4833
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 550 to 700
Area of KBA (km2): 57.66019
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: An upland limestone plateau in northwest Socotra, rising from 550-700 m, with a rich mosaic of mainly Lyceum woodland with grasses and woody herbs, especially Pulicaria and some Tamarix. An important and well-managed area for sheep grazing.
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: One of the most important sites on Socotra for bird biodiversity. Surveyed 2000-2006.
Delineation rationale: 2008-12-10 (BL Secretariat): Polygon mainly follows the 600-m contour (Woody Herb polygon of RBGE, as provided to BirdLife in 2000), dipping to the 200-m contour along the steep north face of the escarpment (to include the semi-deciduous thicket mentioned in the 1994 text account), as well as including the steepest & tallest cliffs of the north-west headland Ra's Baduwa (possibly roosting Phalacrocorax nigrogularis is a 1994 key species), and a 250-m-wide band of sea offshore of the cliffs.
Habitats
Land use: rangeland/pastureland
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 85 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 5 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 5 | |
| Marine Neritic | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Fragmentation by road building could lead to development as the area is opened up to access (Miller et al 2007). Overgrazing is not likely to be a problem if current, sustainable, grazing management continues.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Only in the future |