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close| Location | Guinea, Kindia |
| Central coordinates | 14o 33.00' West 10o 29.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A4i, A4iii |
| Area | 20,000 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 5m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See Box for key species. The mudflats are used by both Phoenicopterus minor (counts of 5,000–10,000) and P. ruber. Several waterbird species nest in the mangroves including Scopus umbretta, Ciconia episcopus and, perhaps, Mycteria ibis. In addition, large numbers of wintering waders use the mudflats, including several hundred Recurvirostra avosetta. Khôni Benki is an important high-tide roost for waders. The freshwater marshes and rice-fields are used by numerous nesting Phalacrocorax africanus, Anhinga rufa, Casmerodius albus, Dendrocygna viduata and, probably, Ardeola ralloides. Although there have been no complete counts, available data suggest that the site is regularly used by more than 20,000 waterbirds and it is likely that further counts would reveal that some species exceed 1% thresholds.
Site description The site is located on the north-west coast, to the south of the town of Kamsar, at the mouth of Rio Kapatchez. It extends between Pointe Gonzalez to the north-west and the Koumba river to the south-east, just to the north of Cap Verga. The site includes a large expanse of mudflats as well as mangroves, sand-dunes, freshwater marsh and rice-fields. Mangroves are well-developed along the Kaliki river and, at its mouth, c.3 km east of Pointe Gonzalez, is a sandy islet known as Khôni Benki.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor | winter | - | 5,000-10,000 individuals | - | A1 | Near Threatened |
| Royal Tern Sterna maxima | winter | 1998 | 1,470 individuals | unknown | A4i | Least Concern |
| Little Tern Sterna albifrons | winter | 1998 | 1,800 individuals | unknown | A4i | Least Concern |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | winter | - | 20,000 individuals | unknown | A4iii |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Kapatchez | Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) | 20,000 | is identical to site | 20,000 |
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Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | 9% | |
| Unknown | 5% | |
| Shrubland | 4% | |
| Forest | 80% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| fisheries/aquaculture | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
Other biodiversity The dolphin Sousa teuszii (DD) has been recorded near Khôni Benki.
Management considerations The area was designated a Ramsar Site in 1992. Disturbance of nest-sites by farmers and fishermen is a problem, as is cutting of the mangroves to supply wood to the nearby urban market of Kamsar. Clearance of mangroves for rice cultivation is a further threat. The site is state owned.
References Altenburg and van der Kamp (1991a, b), Jones (1993).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Rio Kapatchez. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013
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