MA012
Canton Forestier de Sidi Bou Ghaba


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important in 2001 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):
Species Current IUCN Red List Category Season Year(s) Population estimate at site IBA criteria met
Barbary Partridge Alectoris barbara LC resident 1999 present A3
Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris NT winter - 480 individuals A1, A4i
Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis NT breeding 1999 present A3
Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata LC resident - 20 breeding pairs A4i
Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata LC winter - 560 individuals A4i
Eleonora's Falcon Falco eleonorae LC breeding 1999 present A3
Subalpine Warbler Curruca cantillans LC breeding 1999 present A3
Sardinian Warbler Curruca melanocephala LC resident 1999 present A3
Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor LC resident 1999 present A3
Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica LC breeding 1999 present A3

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2001).


IBA Conservation

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2001 not assessed high not assessed
Was the whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes unset good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1 Threat level 2 Timing Scope Severity Result
Human intrusions and disturbance recreational activities happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) slow but significant deterioration high
Natural system modifications dams & water management/use - abstraction of ground water (agricultural use) likely in short term (within 4 years) some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Pollution agricultural & forestry effluents - type unknown/unrecorded likely in short term (within 4 years) some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation Management planning Other conservation action Result
Not assessed Not assessed Not assessed not assessed
For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

IBA Protection

Protected area (PA) PA designation PA area (ha) Relationship of PA with IBA Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
Sidi Boughaba Biological Reserve 650 protected area contained by site 650
Sidi Bou Ghaba Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance 2,311 protected area overlaps with site 650
Sidi Bou Ghaba Réserve de Chasse Permanente 4,621 protected area overlaps with site 0

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
forestry -
nature conservation and research -
tourism/recreation -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Canton Forestier de Sidi Bou Ghaba. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/canton-forestier-de-sidi-bou-ghaba-iba-morocco on 05/12/2023.