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Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
Situated 60 km south of the town of Sidi Bouzid, Bouhedma National Park represents an ecosystem unique in Tunisia. The vegetation of the park is woodland in which
Acacia raddiana occurs in association with
Periploca laevigata and
Rhus tripartitum. The main peak within the park, Djebel Bouhedma, which reaches 840 m, supports a vegetation dominated by
Olea europaea,
Juniperus phoenicea and
Pistacia atlantica. On the surrounding plains
Arthrophytum scoparium and
A. schmittiamum are conspicuous elements.
See Box and Table 2 for key species. This is one of only two IBAs in Tunisia at which
Ramphocoris clotbey occurs. In addition,
Aquila chrysaetos and
Falco biarmicus erlangeri breed in the park. There is a population of
Struthio camelus, reintroduced in the 1980s, as was
Numida meleagris.
Non-bird biodiversity: The mammals Ammotragus lervia (VU) and Gazella dorcas (VU) have been recorded. There are reintroduced populations of Oryx dammah (EW) and Addax nasomaculatus (EN).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The site was declared a National Park in 1980; it is also a Biosphere Reserve. Threats to areas surrounding the park including overgrazing, wood-cutting and poaching.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bouhedma (Tunisia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bouhedma-iba-tunisia on 23/11/2024.
