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• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2019 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
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata	LC	winter (2014–2017)	10,060–15,442 birds	B3a
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	LC	winter (2014–2017)	15,183–21,005 birds	B3a
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus	LC	non-breeding (2014–2017)	20,311–37,863 birds	A4, B3a
Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor	NT	non-breeding (2014–2017)	6,552–12,000 birds	B1a, B3a
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia	LC	winter (2014–2017)	722–1,202 birds	A4, B3a
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo	LC	non-breeding (2014–2017)	1,055–2,378 birds	B3a
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	winter (2014–2017)	664–749 birds	B3a
Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius	LC	non-breeding (2014–2017)	152–330 birds	B3a
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica	NT	winter (2014–2017)	55–129 birds	B1a
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	winter (2014–2017)	304–602 birds	B1a
Red Knot Calidris canutus	NT	winter (2014–2017)	246–515 birds	B1a
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea	VU	winter (2014–2017)	212–277 birds	B1a
Slender-billed Gull Larus genei	LC	non-breeding (2014–2017)	309–696 birds	B3a
Common Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica	LC	winter (2014–2017)	221–461 birds	B3a
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia	LC	non-breeding (2014–2017)	420–1,269 birds	B3a
Sahelian Woodpecker Dendropicos elachus	LC	resident (2001)	present	A3
Cricket Warbler Spiloptila clamans	LC	resident (2001)	present	A3
Black Scrub-robin Cercotrichas podobe	LC	resident (2001)	present	A3
Sudan Golden Sparrow Passer luteus	LC	resident (2001)	present	A3
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	non-breeding (2014–2017)	61,023–83,143 birds	B3b

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2019. The most recent assessment (2022) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species	Actual vs Reference (units)	% remaining	Result
Phoenicopterus ruber	460 / 500 (pairs)	92	not assessed

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Transportation and service corridors	happe­ning now	whole of popul­ation/area (>90%)	rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	very high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Residential and commercial development	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Little/none of area covered (<10%)	A compre­hensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not compre­hensive and are limited by resources and capacity	low

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
2005	Delta du Fleuve Sénégal (Mauritania)	UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve (UA)	-

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Desert	51
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	25
Grassland	23

Land use	% of IBA
agriculture	-
water management	-
rangeland/pastureland	-

The site is unprotected, even though it's the only nesting site for Lesser Flamingos in West Africa, so it's definitely worth protecting the area.

Now there's a surveillance post at the Diawling National Park.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Aftout Es Sâheli (Mauritania). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/aftout-es-sâheli-iba-mauritania on 23/12/2024.