SA038
Farasan Islands


IBA Justification

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 1994 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
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia LC breeding (1993) 10 pairs A4i, B1i
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia LC winter (1990–1992) 59–82 birds A4i, B1i
Goliath Heron Ardea goliath LC resident (1993) 1–4 pairs B1i, B2
Brown Booby Sula leucogaster LC breeding (1993) 150 pairs B1ii
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus LC winter (1990–1992) 351–500 birds A4i, B1i
Charadrius mongolus NR winter (1990–1992) 180–310 birds B1i
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres NT winter (1990–1992) 307–354 birds B1i
Crab-plover Dromas ardeola LC resident (1993) 110 pairs B3
Brown Noddy Anous stolidus LC breeding (1993) 10,000 pairs A4i, B1i
Sooty Gull Larus hemprichii LC resident (1993) 545 birds B3
White-eyed Gull Larus leucophthalmus LC breeding (1993) 300 birds A1, A4i, B1i, B2
White-eyed Gull Larus leucophthalmus LC non-breeding (1992) 21 birds B2
Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus LC breeding (1993) 12,150 birds A4i, B1i
Saunders's Tern Sternula saundersi LC resident (1993) 20 pairs B3
Saunders's Tern Sternula saundersi LC winter (1990–1992) 365–595 birds A4i, B1i, B3
White-cheeked Tern Sterna repressa LC breeding (1993) 8,300 birds A4i, B1i, B3
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus EN resident (1992) 20–65 pairs B2
Sooty Falcon Falco concolor VU breeding (1993) 32 pairs B2

IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1994. The most recent assessment (2013) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2013 not assessed low low
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes unset unknown

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Human intrusions and disturbance likely in short term (<4 years) few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) 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
Most of area (50–90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species) A compre­hensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species Not assessed low

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
1988 Farasan Islands محمية موارد مستغلة (VI) 100

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Marine Neritic major (>10)
Shrubland major (>10)
Artificial/Terrestrial minor (<10)
Forest minor (<10)
Marine Coastal/Supratidal minor (<10)

Land use

Land use % of IBA
fisheries/aquaculture major (>10)
nature conservation and research major (>10)
hunting major (>10)
agriculture minor (<10)
rangeland/pastureland minor (<10)
other minor (<10)


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Farasan Islands (Saudi Arabia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/farasan-islands-iba-saudi-arabia on 23/12/2024.