Data Zone
Country/territory: Saudi Arabia
IBA criteria met: A1, B1iv, B2, B3 (1994)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 5,500 hectares (55.00 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2013 | not assessed | very high | very low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (1994 baseline)
Wadi Jawwah lies at 100-300 m in the foothills east of Abu Arish and south of al-Arida, inland from Jizan. It consists of a sandy and clay bed surrounded by often steep volcanic rocky slopes, and there is a small artificial dam, behind which lies a small lake for most of the year. Scattered Dobera and Ficus trees dominate the landscape and there are many remnant patches of Acacia and Salvadora scrub. The rocky outcrops and bordering slopes are only sparsely vegetated with Acacia and succulents but can have a surprising cover of grasses after heavy rain. The wadi is densely populated and most of it is cultivated with sorghum and millet.
Key biodiversity
See box for key species. The wadi has one of the highest diversities of breeding species known in Arabia, some in the highest densities known in the country, including Terathopius ecaudatus, Coturnix delegorguei, Numida meleagris (the single most important site in Saudi Arabia: c.350 birds in 1988 and over 1,000 in 1990), Burhinus capensis, Streptopelia roseogrisea, Treron waalia, Centropus superciliosus, Bubo africanus, Caprimulgus inornatus, Halcyon leucocephala, Merops albicollis, Coracias abyssinica, Tockus nasutus, Anthreptes metallicus, Tchagra senegala, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster and Emberiza tahapisi. The lake has breeding Tachybaptus ruficollis, and wintering waterbirds have included Plegadis falcinellus (72). There is a colony of 1,200-1,500 pairs of Bubulcus ibis 50 km to the south at Tuwal, nearby but outside the site. There is a strong autumn migration of raptors, including Circaetus gallicus (18), Buteo buteo vulpinus (975), Aquila nipalensis (650) and Hieraaetus pennatus (12).
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Acknowledgements
Data-sheet compiled by P. Symens.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Wadi Jawwah (Saudi Arabia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/wadi-jawwah-iba-saudi-arabia on 23/12/2024.