Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
The Ouadi Rimé–Ouadi Achim Faunal Reserve, one of the largest protected areas in Africa, is situated in the centre of the country and covers three major habitat-types, Sahelian wooded grassland, sub-desert grassland, and desert. The wooded grassland includes areas of fixed dunes separated by wadis and depressions. The vegetation of this habitat is characterized by annual grasses interspersed with trees such as
Acacia senegal,
Balanites aegyptiaca,
Combretum glutinosum and
Boscia senegalensis. Sub-desert grassland covers some two-thirds of the reserve. Characteristic grasses include
Aristida mutabilis,
Chloris prieurii and
Cenchrus biflorus, while the herbs
Limeum viscosum,
Indigofera hochstetteri and
Blepharis linariifolia are also common. Trees, particularly
Acacia tortilis, are concentrated in dune depressions. In the desert there is little permanent vegetation, but the hardy plant
Cornulaca monacantha occurs in clumps on sandy soils. Topographically, the reserve is relatively featureless and, apart from one small area of volcanic outcroppings, there is little rocky country. The Goz Kerky is a long, largely continuous dune cordon which runs north–south through the reserve.The site is bordered to the east by a series of 1,500 m high massifs, from which arise the series of parallel wadis which dissect the reserve. With their associated flood-plains, temporary pools and inundation zones, these wadis greatly enhance the topographical and biological diversity of the reserve. Rainfall is restricted to July–September. There is considerable variation in mean annual rainfall, both between the north and the south of the reserve and between years at any one place. Thus, representative figures for the Sahelian wooded grassland are (e.g. at Abeché) mean annual rainfall 413 mm (range 105–980 mm), for sub-desert grassland (e.g. Arada) 205 mm (range 43–570 mm), and for desert (e.g. at Faya) 14 mm (range 0–73 mm).
See Box and Table 2 for key species. A total of 267 bird species have so far been recorded for the site. In addition to those mentioned below, the site also holds three species of the Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome; see Table 2. Thousands of migrant Palearctic waterbirds are reported to visit the wadis during the short rainy season.
Non-bird biodiversity: Threatened mammals include Gazella dama (EN, few), Gazella dorcas (VU) and Gazella rufifrons (VU). In addition, Acinonyx jubatus (VU) and Addax nasomaculatus (VU) used to occur but probably no longer do so, while Oryx dammah (EW) has certainly been extirpated.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The Ouadi Rimé–Ouadi Achim Faunal Reserve was created in 1969 for the protection of the country’s Sahelo–Saharan fauna. Although, in theory, one of the largest protected areas in Africa, it lacks any personnel or proper status in the field. As with many other parts of the Sahel, the major factor affecting this site is diminishing rainfall. This is particularly affecting the Sahelian wooded grasslands where the effects are exacerbated by human pressure for fuelwood and grazing pasture. The opening of new, deep wells has increased accessibility and, therefore, also grazing and hunting pressures. Hunting occurs over much of the reserve, by nomads with horses, dogs and nets, by the more affluent from vehicles and by military personnel, especially common during the civil war. In addition, for several years parties of falconers from the Arabian Gulf are said to have visited the area, as it still has relatively large populations of bustards and gazelles. These activities were recently brought to a halt, at least temporarily, due to public protest.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ouadi Rimé - Ouadi Achim (Chad). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ouadi-rimé--ouadi-achim-iba-chad on 23/12/2024.
