MA006
Sebkha Bou Areg


IBA Justification

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2001 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:
Species Red List Season (year/s of estimate) Size IBA criteria
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus LC winter (-) 800–990 birds A4i
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis LC winter (-) 5,000 birds A4i
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus LC winter (-) 991 birds A4i
Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii VU winter (-) 1,257 birds A1, A4i
Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis LC breeding (-) 5,457 pairs A4i
Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis LC winter (-) 74 birds A4i

IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2001. The most recent assessment (2014) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2014 not assessed very high low
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes unset medium

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Human intrusions and disturbance happe­ning now whole of popul­ation/area (>90%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) very high
Pollution happe­ning now whole of popul­ation/area (>90%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) very high
Natural system modifications happe­ning now whole of popul­ation/area (>90%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) very high
Residential and commercial development happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations) high

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Most of area (50–90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species) A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not compre­hensive Some limited conservation initiatives are in place low

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
2005 Sebkha Bou Areg Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance (UA) 78
2005 Sebkha Bou Areg Nature Reserve (IV) 78

Land use

Land use % of IBA
agriculture -
fisheries/aquaculture -
hunting -
tourism/recreation -
urban/industrial/transport -
other -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sebkha Bou Areg (Morocco). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sebkha-bou-areg-iba-morocco on 23/12/2024.