LY006
Geziret Garah


Country/territory: Libya

IBA criteria met: A4i (2001)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 5 hectares (0.05 km2)

IBA conservation status
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2006 good low very low
For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here


Site description (2001 baseline)
Geziret Garah is a small, sandstone island lying 12 km offshore in the Gulf of Sirt (Surt, Sirte), some 20 km west-south-west of the town of Azzuwaytinah (Zuwaytinah). It measures some 150 x 300 m. On the northern, western and eastern sides there are low cliffs resulting from wave erosion. The southern side is more sheltered and slopes gradually to the sea, with some small sandy beaches. The island is sparsely vegetated with low, scattered bushes.

Key biodiversity
See Box for key species. The colony of Sterna bengalensis on the island represents 95% of the breeding population of the species in the Mediterranean. The only other species that breeds on the island is Larus cachinnans.

Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Geziret Garah (Libya). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/geziret-garah-iba-libya on 26/12/2024.