Sites - Important Bird Areas (IBAs)

Ornithological information See Box and Table 2 for key species. Thirteen species of the Sahara–Sindian biome and 10 of the Sahel biome are known from the Ennedi as a whole, thus it is likely that further surveys will reveal more biome-restricted species from this site than currently are known.

Site description Fada Archei is located in the Ennedi massif in the north-east of the country, south-east of the town of Fada. The reserve, on the transition of the Sahelian and Saharan zones, comprises a rocky ridge dissected by deep, eroded gorges. Mean annual rainfall is less than 50 mm, mostly falling in July and August. A north-facing gorge, 1.5 km long, opens out of the escarpment and contains six large ponds connected by swampy strips. These are fed by permanent springs at the head of the gorge with a discharge rate of 600–700 m³ per day. The gorges contain dense riparian forest, with species such as Acacia nilotica, A. seyal, Adina microcephala, Balanites aegyptiaca, Boscia angustifolia, Ficus spp. and Vitex doniana. The pools are fringed by species of Cyperus, Juncus, Phragmites, Scirpus and Typha, while Nymphaea and Potamogeton spp. grow in them.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Protected areas

Protected area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
Fada Archei	Faunal Reserve	211,000	protected area contains site	210,000

Habitats

Land use

Other biodiversity Threatened mammals that occur, or used to do so till the late 1970s, at this site include Panthera leo (VU), Acinonyx jubatus (VU), Addax nasomaculatus (CR), Ammotragus lervia (VU) and Gazella dorcas (VU). There are 16 species of fish known from the Ennedi and Tibesti massifs, the majority of which are endemic—the following have been recorded from the vicinity of this IBA: Barbus macrops, Coptodon zillii and Labeo tibestii.

Management considerations The area, which is extremely isolated and largely undisturbed, was established as a Faunal Reserve in 1967, primarily to protect Ammotragus lervia. Nomads utilize the water-pools for domestic purposes and there may be some limited grazing. There is some threat of poaching from hunters who have access to sophisticated weaponry from the military station at Fada.

References Depierrre and Gillet (1974), Gillet (1968).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Fada Archei. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013

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