YE009
Al-Kadan area


Site description (2014 baseline):

Site location and context
This IBA is extended south to Bajil to include the agricultural land and the new Bajil Sewage Lagoons: four large concrete lined settlement talks in a largely agricultural area. Recently created (in last few years). Visited frequently since Evans (1994), on two occasions to search for satellite-tagged Northern Bald Ibis on migration as signals were received from the Bajil area. Last visited in 2011.

Key biodiversity
The rubbish dump at Bajil is an important feeding spot for eagles, vultures and storks. The new sewage lagoons are a resting and feeding site for Common and Demoiselle Cranes and is likely to be a site used by Northern Bald Ibis in passage (as was the case with the Taizz sewage lagoons in the 1980s).

Habitat and land use
Includes agricultural land south to Bajil and the new Bajil Sewage Lagoons: four large concrete lined settlement talks in a largely agricultural area.

Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Threats: In the Al-Kadan area, there is major problem with cutting the endemic Acacia, known as Salam to make high quality charcoal. This is used to burn incense for the Sheesha (water pipe) because there are no impurities and it doesn’t produce smoke or smells - only fire. There is high demand for it. Hunting of the Arabian Bustard is a potential threat; the likely extent of this is not known.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Al-Kadan area (Yemen). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/al-kadan-area-iba-yemen on 23/12/2024.