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MA019
Region Fouchal - Matarka
Location Morocco, Figuig,Oujda
Central coordinates 2o 13.00' West  33o 20.00' North
IBA criteria A3
Area 490,000 ha
Altitude 1,060 - 1,310m
Year of IBA assessment 2001





Ornithological information See Box and Table 2 for key species. Approximately 100 species have been recorded, including Chlamydotis undulata and large flocks of sandgrouse (an estimated 100,000 Pterocles alchata were observed in December 1993). Five species of the Sahara–Sindian biome also occur (see Table 2). In December 1993, 73 wintering Charadrius morinellus were recorded in a small part of this vast site, leading to the suspicion that numbers of this cryptic, hard-to-census species may exceed the threshold for qualification as an IBA under the A4i criterion.

Site description The site is a large triangular area of plateau, its northern apex situated at the village of Al Fouchal some 25 km south of Aïn Beni Mathar, its south-western corner at the village of Matarka, and its eastern boundary formed by the Oujda–Figuig road. Vegetation consists mainly of arid tussock-grass Stipa tenacissima–Artemisia inculta steppe. There are several gueltas/temporary ponds (e.g. Guelta El Beida, Dayet Oum Slimane). The principal economic activity is extensive livestock-rearing.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Barbary Partridge Alectoris barbara resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Pharaoh Eagle-owl Bubo ascalaphus resident  1999  -  -    Least Concern 
Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis breeding  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Greater Hoopoe-lark Alaemon alaudipes resident  1999  -  -    Least Concern 
Thick-billed Lark Rhamphocoris clotbey resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Bar-tailed Lark Ammomanes cinctura resident  1999  -  -    Least Concern 
Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti resident  1999  -  -    Least Concern 
Dupont's Lark Chersophilus duponti resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Near Threatened 
Temminck's Lark Eremophila bilopha resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Red-rumped Wheatear Oenanthe moesta resident  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica breeding  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus resident  1999  -  -    Least Concern 

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -

Other biodiversity The mammal Gazella dorcas (LR/nt) occurs.

Management considerations The site is unprotected. Threats include overgrazing and hunting.

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Region Fouchal - Matarka. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013

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