Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2017 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus | LC | winter (2009–2017) | 3,000–18,000 birds | A4, B3a |
| Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus | LC | breeding (2009) | 2,000 pairs | A4, B3a |
| Western Reef-egret Egretta gularis | LC | breeding (2009–2017) | 50–100 pairs | B3a |
| Western Reef-egret Egretta gularis | LC | non-breeding (2009–2017) | 20–300 birds | B3a |
| Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica | NT | passage (2009–2017) | 300–1,300 birds | B1a, B3a |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2017. The most recent assessment (2017) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2017 | poor | low | low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | population | medium | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus | 4,000 / 6,150 (birds) | 66 | poor | ||
| Western Reef-egret Egretta gularis | 250 / 170 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica | 400 / 1,200 (birds) | 34 | not assessed | ||
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Transportation and service corridors | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | rapid decline (>30% over 3 generations) | low |
| Biological resource use | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | low |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | low |
| Residential and commercial development | likely in short term (<4 years) | few individuals/small area (<10%) | rapid decline (>30% over 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Whole area (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | No management plan exists, but the management planning process has begun | Some limited conservation initiatives are in place | low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Bul Syayeef | Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance (IV) | 100 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | major (>10) | |
| Marine Intertidal | major (>10) | |
| Marine Neritic | major (>10) | |
| Forest | minor (<10) | Subtropical & tropical mangrove |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | 100 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Abu Al Sayayif (United Arab Emirates). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/abu-al-sayayif-iba-united-arab-emirates on 23/12/2024.