Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
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.
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.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The major threats are intensive hunting and the harvesting of reeds.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Snam (Tunisia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/snam-iba-tunisia on 23/11/2024.
