email a friend
printable version
close| Location | Tunisia, Nabeul |
| Central coordinates | 10o 48.00' East 37o 6.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A4ii, A4iii |
| Area | 391 ha |
| Altitude | 120 - 435m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See Box for key species. Zembra holds the largest known breeding colony of Calonectris diomedea in the Mediterranean Sea. The 9 km of cliffs of the island also hold 10 breeding pairs of Falco peregrinus, one of the highest densities known for this species. Other breeding birds include Larus audouinii (10 pairs), Phalacrocorax aristotelis and Larus cachinnans (100 pairs).
Site description Located in the eastern part of the Gulf of Tunis, to the west of Cap Bon, Zembra island is situated about 15 km west-north-west of the town of El Haouaria. It is a mountainous island rising to 435 m, and is a seaward extension of the Dorsale. The vegetation is Mediterranean maquis and a total of 230 plant species have been recorded, with Olea europaea, Pistacia lentiscus, Arbutus unedo and Erica multiflora as dominants. The vegetation of the small, neighbouring island of Zembretta is halophytic.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea | breeding | - | 20,000 breeding pairs | - | A4ii | Least Concern |
| Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii | breeding | - | 10 breeding pairs | - | A1 | Near Threatened |
| A4iii Species group - seabirds | breeding | - | - | unknown | A4iii |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iles Zembra et Zembretta | UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve | 791 | protected area contains site | 391 |
|
| Zembra and Zembretta | Barcelona Convention | 5,095 | protected area contains site | 391 |
|
| Zembra and Zembretta | National Park | 5,095 | protected area contains site | 391 |
|
Local conservation groups The local conservation group below is working to support conservation at this IBA.
| Name | Year formed |
|---|---|
| AAO/ Tunisian Ornithology Group (GTO) | 2000 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | Bushland & thicket - Mediterranean | major |
| Coastline | Sea cliffs & rocky shores; Shallow marine waters | major |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
Other biodiversity The seal Monachus monachus (CR) was last recorded in 1975.
Management considerations Zembra was declared a National Park in 1977. The site is also a Biosphere Reserve.
References Association Les Amis des Oiseaux (2000), Association Les Amis des Oiseaux and Medmaravis (1995), Azafzaf (2000), Ben Maïz and Boudouresque (1984), Ben Saad (1984), Centre d’Activites Regionales pour les Aires Spécialement Protégées (1986), Gaultier (1978, 1982, 1980), Hollis (1986), Ministère de l’Environnement et de l’Aménagement du Territoire (1999), Oueslati (1995), Smart (1975).
Contribute Please click here to help BirdLife conserve the world's birds - your data for this IBA and others are vital for helping protect the environment.
Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Zembra and Zembretta Islands. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/06/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
|
|