Data Zone
Country/territory: United Arab Emirates
IBA criteria met: B1i, B3 (1994)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 250 ha
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | Threat (pressure) | Condition (state) | Action (response) |
| 2006 | low | unfavourable | medium |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (baseline)
A series of man-made lagoons resulting from regular dumping of liquid sewage waste onto a sand-dune/sabkhah area since the early 1980s; some lagoons are deep enough for diving waterbirds, and contain fish. Existing salt-tolerant scrub is being colonized by Prosopis and Tamarix trees, and there are large Phragmites reedbeds. There is potential for wildlife education/research.
Key biodiversity
See box for key species. Vanellus indicus is resident (c.10 pairs) and Charadrius dubius breeds. Winter visitors include Nycticorax nycticorax (40), Egretta gularis (150), Phoenicopterus ruber (400) and Vanellus leucurus (rare). Passage migrants include Egretta gularis (c.150, August-November). At least 118 species recorded.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by Colin Richardson.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ramtha lagoons. Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/8319 on 04/06/2023.
