Data Zone
Country/territory: Qatar
Subnational region(s): Al Khawr
IBA Justification: B1i (1994)
Area: 3,000 hectares (30.00 km2)
| Conservation status of the Important Bird Area (IBA) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2013 | not assessed | high | not assessed |
Site description (1994 baseline)
A sheltered set of bays adjacent to the town of Al-Dhakira, with dense stands of mangrove Avicennia marina (c.1,000 ha or less), broad mudflats (tidal amplitude is less than 2 m) and saltmarsh vegetation. The bay is largely protected from open sea to the east by a spit. Longshore drift is north to south. Possibly an important spawning and nursery area for economically valuable fish and shrimp stocks. Some artisanal fishing occurs, and the mangrove is grazed by camels.
Key biodiversity
The site has not yet been comprehensively surveyed, but it may be important for wintering or passage waterbirds, including Platalea leucorodia (max. 22), Phoenicopterus ruber (max. 'low hundreds'), duck (max. 'low hundreds'), and, offshore, Sterna anaethetus (max. 'low hundreds').
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by Bob Nation.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Al-Dhakira mangrove (Qatar). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/al-dhakira-mangrove-iba-qatar on 20/01/2025.