Country/territory: Somalia
IBA criteria met: A1, A2, A3 (2001)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 220,000 hectares (2,200.00 km2)
Site description (2001 baseline)
Jowhar–Warshiikh (Warshek) lies on the southern coast of Somalia, to the north of Muqdisho and immediately south-east of Xawaadley reservoir (site SO014). The site includes areas of sand-dunes close to the sea and rolling plains inland, with patches of low, often heavily grazed, halophytic scrub and herbaceous growth. Vegetation on the large coastal dunes includes areas of deciduous woodland.
Key biodiversity
See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. In addition to those listed below, Circus macrourus has been recorded from this site. The site includes the type-locality of Mirafra ashi, the only place from which it is known. Of the other Somali–Masai biome species recorded, Mirafra hypermetra, M. poecilosterna, Cisticola cinereolus and Anthoscopus musculus have been recorded from few other IBAs in Somalia.
Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals of conservation concern that occur, or which used to do so, include Chlorotalpa tytonis (CR), Gazella soemmerringii (VU), G. spekei (VU), Tragelaphus imberbis (LR/cd), Madoqua piacentinii (VU) and Litocranius walleri (LR/cd).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Jowhar - Warshiikh (Somalia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/jowhar--warshiikh-iba-somalia on 22/12/2024.