Data Zone
Country/territory: Tunisia
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i (2001)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 120 hectares (1.20 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2009 | not assessed | very high | very low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2001 baseline)
Snam is a small reed-fringed lake, 10 km west of Douz alongside the road to Noueil. It is fed by water which runs off from the nearby oasis. Water depth is up to 1 m in winter, but in summer this wetland diminishes in size significantly. The vegetation is composed of Phragmites communis, Tamarix africana and Juncus species.
Key biodiversity
See Box for key species. See under Ghidma (site TN042) for the ornithological importance of the small oasis wetlands near Douz. This site, with Ghidma, is probably the most important of these small oasis wetlands, and is one of the most important sites in Tunisia for wintering Marmaronetta angustirostris and for other Palearctic ducks. The abundance of the reeds also makes this a good breeding site for a number of species. Tachybaptus ruficollis, Nycticorax nycticorax, Ixobrychus minutus, Aythya nyroca and Rallus aquaticus have all been recorded in July. In addition, six Sahara–Sindian biome species have been recorded (see Table 2).
Non-bird biodiversity: The ungulate Gazella dorcas (VU) has been recorded.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Snam (Tunisia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/snam-iba-tunisia on 23/12/2024.