Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
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.
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.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The area is situated within 30 km of the capital, and there is much building of housing and industrial facilities. The area has no protected status and some habitat conservation measures are urgently required. Hunting and human disturbance from nearby tourist hotels are minor in comparison to the building activity.
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.
