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Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
The site includes Kouf National Park which lies 150 km north-east of Benghazi, next to the town of Al Bayda (Beida). The park includes a 20 km stretch of coast and extends southwards into the Jabal al Akhdar massif. The main Benghazi–Tubruq (Tobruk) road traverses the park. The coastal section of the park consists of sandy beaches interspersed with rock outcrops and coastal cliffs. Behind the beach is a disjunct band of sand-dunes which are fringed on the landward side by shallow, seasonal brackish lagoons. The coastal strip and dunes are covered with the grasses
Ammophila arenaria and
Agropyron junceum together with scattered shrubs. The woody plants
Limoniastrum monopetalum and
Tamarix nilotica are also common on the dunes. Species found on the seasonal mudflats include the halophytes
Suaeda fruticosa and
Cakile maritima. The edges of permanent water are lined with
Phragmites australis. Also included is a large section of Jabal al Akhdar, a limestone massif reaching 850 m. Wadis up to 200 m deep cut steep-sided gorges into the limestone. The vegetation is mainly dense maquis shrubland, in which
Juniperus phoenicia is common. The maquis grades in places into garrigue with abundant herbaceous communities. Associated with the juniper are
Cupressus sempervirens,
Pistacia lentiscus and
P.
atlantica; along with
Myrtus communis,
Olea europaea and
Rhamnus spp. The vegetation of the rocky slopes includes
Cichorium spinosum,
Alkanna tinctoria,
Urginea maritima and grasses.
Cupressus sempervirens grows in the gorges along with
Quercus coccifera trees up to 10 m high in the more sheltered areas. The shrubs
Smilax aspera,
Viburnum tinus and
Pistacia lentiscus are also common amongst the rocks. There is no permanent water except for small springs by the sebkha lagoon of Ayn al Shaqiqh while the wadis carry water only for short periods following heavy rains, mainly during November to February; annual rainfall is in the range 300–700 mm.
See Box and Table 2 for key species. At least 27 pairs of
Falco naumanni were recorded breeding in 1998. It is likely that more species of the Mediterranean North Africa biome will be found to occur. In addition, one species of the Sahara–Sindian biome (A02) has been recorded (see Table 2). Breeding species include
Aquila chrysaetos,
Alectoris barbara,
Pterocles spp. and
Chlamydotis undulata. The brackish lagoons are important for herons, ducks and waders as well as
Ciconia nigra and
C. ciconia.
Non-bird biodiversity: The seal Monachus monachus (CR) has been reported in the past, but its current status is unknown. Other marine mammals recorded offshore include Tursiops truncatus (DD). The sea-turtle Caretta caretta (EN) nests on beaches in the park. Among the flora, notable North African endemics include Arbutus pavarii (V), Arum cyrenaicum, Thapsia garganica sylphium, Ornithogalum barba-carprae, Origanum cyrenaicum, Athamanta della-cellae, Crocus boulosii (V) and Cyclamen rohlfsianum (V). Approximately 90% of Libya’s flora has been recorded from the park.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The site includes Kouf National Park which was first designated a Nature Reserve in 1978 and became established as a National Park in 1979. The park originally covered 32,122 ha, but has reportedly become restricted to only 9,000 ha. Jabal al Akhdar is the second-most populous region of Libya and has been inhabited for many centuries. However, the natural vegetation of the site appears not to have been cleared in historic times. There are at least 229 sites of archaeological importance in the area. In 1984, 2,500 people were living within the park; their livelihoods were based on pastoralism and the cultivation of olives and barley. At least until recently the park suffered from excessive grazing, timber exploitation, hunting and illicit woodland fires. There is also concern over the introduction of exotic animal species and the misuse of firearms and agricultural chemicals. In addition, there is heavy pressure from tourists, with 100,000 visiting the site in 1980, rising to 300,000 in 1985. The park is seen as a key resource for national and international tourism as well as for education and the conservation of wildlife.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Jabal al Akhdar (Libya). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/jabal-al-akhdar-iba-libya on 23/11/2024.
