Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2017 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Socotra Cormorant Phalacrocorax nigrogularis | VU | breeding (2010–2017) | 7,500–14,000 pairs | A1, A4, B3a |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | breeding (2010–2017) | 7,500–14,000 pairs | B3b |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2017. The most recent assessment (2017) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2017 | moderate | low | very low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | population | medium | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| Socotra Cormorant Phalacrocorax nigrogularis | 7,500 / 10,750 (pairs) | 70 | moderate | ||
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| No known threats | happening now | whole of population/area (>90%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Little/none of area covered (<10%) | No management planning has taken place | Very little or no conservation action taking place | very low |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Al Rafiq (United Arab Emirates). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/al-rafiq-iba-united-arab-emirates on 25/12/2024.