Data Zone
Country/territory: Mauritania
IBA criteria met: A4, B1a, B3a, B3b (2019)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 46,030 hectares (460.30 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2022 | not assessed | very high | low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site summary
The Aftout Es Saheli, an integral part of the Chatt boul reserve, is a long depression located behind the coastline south of Nouakchott. This depression, made up of clay-silt basins and sebkhas, extends from 16°36' to 17°07' north and from 16°26' to 15°59' west longitude. The Aftout es Saheli lagoon, 65 km long, merges with the Senegal River delta to the south and extends as far as Dramcha north of Nouakchott, stretching 165 km from north to south and varying in width from 4 to 10 km. It lies between the coastal dune belt and the continental dunes and, according to numerous studies, lies below sea level (1 to 5 m). As a result, it is potentially flooded either by marine intrusions in places where the barrier beach has been severely altered, or by river overflows.
In terms of habitat, 23% of the area is covered by grassland, 51% by desert and 25% by rocky areas (BirdLife, 2001).
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.