Diksam (Socotra) (8383)
Yemen, Middle East
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B2
Year of last assessment: 2016
National site name: Diksam (Socotra)
Central coordinates: Latitude: 12.5250, Longitude: 53.9667
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 550 to 700
Area of KBA (km2): 86.89807
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
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: Important for Odonata.
Delineation rationale: 2018-07 (BL Secretariat): site area reduced from 9000 ha (1994 IBA) to 5000 ha (2009 polygon) to 4000 ha (IBA 2016). 2009-01-05 (BL Secretariat): polygon has been drawn as a 90-km2 blob centred on the submontane and semi-deciduous thicket to the west of Diksam (as defined by the Vegetation Regions GIS layer provided by RBGE to BirdLife in 2001), and clipped as necessary by adjacent IBA polygons and by the 550-m contour. The coordinates of Diksam settlement itself were provided as the site coordinates in the 1994 IBA book, but these are not suitable, lying almost outside the polygon, therefore coordinates have been 'corrected' to be the approximate centre of the polygon.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Habitat: granite and limestone slopes, with sub-montane, semi-deciduous thickets, distinguished by Punica protopunica shrubland. Much cattle and goat-grazing.
Land use: rangeland/pastureland
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats: increase in tourism; fragmentation caused by new roads; small-scale built development. None thought to be serious.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Only in the future |