Data Zone
Country/territory: Tunisia
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i (2001)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 600 hectares (6.00 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2009 | very poor | medium | low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2001 baseline)
The site is on the coast at the base of the Cap Bon peninsula, between the town of Soliman and the sea, at the mouth of the Oued el Melah. Habitats includes flood-plain (much reclaimed for agriculture), saltmarsh, springs, former saltpans and an inlet of the sea. The vegetation is mainly halophytic, with Arthrocnemum and Salicornia species dominating. It is the first wetland on the North African coast for birds migrating from the north in autumn.
Key biodiversity
See Box for key species. The area holds a wide variety of waterbirds. Breeding birds include Marmaronetta angustirostris, as well as Himantopus himantopus and Glareola pratincola. During the passage season, there are good numbers of herons, Plegadis falcinellus and several thousand waders of many species including several hundred Tringa stagnatilis, together with Charadrius hiaticula, Pluvialis apricaria, Vanellus vanellus, Limosa limosa and Numenius arquata. There is a major roost of gulls and terns (Laridae), and wintering birds include Phoenicopterus ruber and several ducks.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lagune de Soliman (Tunisia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lagune-de-soliman-iba-tunisia on 23/12/2024.