Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
The proposed Aangole–Farbiito (Forbiitu) National Park lies on the Jubba river, between the towns of Bu’aale and Jilib and incorporates the two riverine Forest Reserves of Barako Madow and Shoonto. Common forest tree species include
Ficus,
Mimusops,
Diospyros and
Sorindeia spp. Emergents reach 15–25 m high while the lower storeys are dense with abundant creepers. The galleries are up to 100 m wide. Outside the riverine belt are extensive areas of thorn-bush, low trees and degraded grassland with scattered palms. Intermediate woodland consists of
Newtonia,
Balanites and
Hyphaene spp., while the thorn-bush is composed principally of
Acacia and
Dobera spp.
See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. This site lies on the boundary of two EBAs, includes elements of two biomes and, although there are no quantitative data available, is within one of Somalia’s most important wetland areas.
Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals of conservation concern that have been recorded include Crocuta crocuta (LR/cd), Hyaena hyaena (LR/nt), Cephalophus harveyi (LR/cd), C. natalensis (LR/cd), Tragelaphus imberbis (LR/cd), Kobus ellipsiprymnus (LR/cd), Litocranius walleri (LR/cd) and Ammodorcas clarkei (VU). Two fish that occur are Pardiglanis tarabinii (DD) and Barbus gananensis, both confined to the Jubba river. A new tree species Cola sp. nov. was identified in the Jubba valley in 1986, as was an undescribed species of sedge Cyperus sp. nov. It is possible that both of these species and possibly other plants endemic to the Jubba valley are found within this site.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The area, which has been proposed as a National Park, incorporates Barako Madow Forest Reserve (140 ha) and Shoonto Forest Reserve (267 ha), both legally established in 1984, and reportedly, the last semi-intact riverine forests along the Jubba. There has been an estimated loss of over 50% of riverine forest in the area between 1960 and 1984. Prior to the current political and security crisis in Somalia there were major development plans for irrigation schemes in the flood-plain of the Jubba. Parts of the site are cultivated to produce maize, sorghum, ground-nuts and sesame, the last-named being the principle crop. There are at least 10 sizeable villages within the proposed boundaries of the park and an unknown number of smaller settlements. In addition to these permanent inhabitants, a small number of nomadic pastoralists uses the area for grazing and water during the dry season. Bee-keeping and honey-hunting is a significant economic activity in the region and is more successful in forest than in cultivated areas.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Aangole - Farbiito (Somalia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/aangole--farbiito-iba-somalia on 22/11/2024.
