Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
This site is situated in the interior of Libya, almost due south of Tripoli and north and west of the oasis town of Sabha. It consists of gently rolling sand-dunes of the Ramlat Zallaf (Azzallaf) system at the eastern end of the great Awbari (Aubari) Erg. Wetlands form in depressions where the water-table is close to the surface, including sebkha saltmarshes and permanent standing pools. Around damp areas and on pool-edges grow
Phragmites australis and
Juncus spp. with
Ammophila spp. grasses in drier parts. The flora is entirely Saharan in character and dominant species include
Calligonum comosum,
Nitraria retusa,
Anabasis articulata,
Acacia spp.,
Euphorbia spp. and
Fagonia spp., along with date-palm
Phoenix dactylifera,
Zizyphus lotus and
Tamarix africana.
See Box and Table 2 for key species. There are two breeding records of
Aythya nyroca from a pool near Askhikah, to the east of the town of Birak (Brak), and up to 100 have been recorded wintering in the area in the past. There have been no avifaunal surveys of the reserve since its notification and its importance therefore requires confirmation. However, there are detailed records from its vicinity from habitats represented within the reserve. The valleys of the area are also important for resting migratory birds, including passerines and waterfowl.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The site was declared a Nature Reserve in 1978 and has been recommended as a National Park. Much of the natural vegetation of the oases within the site has been replaced by date-palm plantations. Areas around the oases are subject to heavy grazing while uncontrolled, motorized hunting has led to the extinction of large mammals.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Zallaf (Libya). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/zallaf-iba-libya on 24/12/2024.
