Data Zone
Country/territory: Morocco
IBA criteria met: A4i (2001)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 1,750 hectares (17.50 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2014 | not assessed | very high | very low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2001 baseline)
The Aguelmane de Sidi Ali Ta’nzoult is one of the most important natural lakes in Morocco, both in terms of its area (500 ha) and its depth (36 m). Situated in a volcanic depression at 2,078 m, 18 km south of the village of Timahdit in the Middle Atlas, the lake is dominated by the ridge of Jbel Sidi Ali, rising to the summit of Jbel Bouyizane (2,395 m). The eastern shore of the lake is bordered by steep slopes wooded with Cedrus atlantica, Juniperus thurifera and Quercus rotundifolia. On other sides the lake is surrounded by a large marshy plain (Ta’nzoult), watered by a spring-fed stream, and the vegetation is composed of Juncus, Rumex and Scirpus species. The site includes the marshy plain and the slopes rising to the summit of Jbel Bouyizane, a total area of approximately 1,750 ha. Annual precipitation is 1,100 mm.
Key biodiversity
See Box for key species. Both Tadorna ferruginea and Fulica cristata nest in small numbers at the site, but are primarily noteworthy as wintering species. Many other waterfowl also winter (e.g. Anas penelope and Fulica atra) but do not exceed A4i thresholds. Five species of the Mediterranean North Africa biome occur (see Table 2).
Non-bird biodiversity: The primate Macaca sylvanus (VU) occurs in the wooded part of the site. The lake used to harbour an endemic trout Salmo pallaryi, but it has disappeared following the introduction of exotic predatory fish.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Aguelmane de Sidi Ali Ta'nzoult (Morocco). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/aguelmane-de-sidi-ali-tanzoult-iba-morocco on 22/12/2024.