The Fada Archei Faunal Reserve is a protected area in north-eastern Chad, in its Ennedi administrative region.
| Fada Archei Faunal Reserve | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
  Map of Chad | |
| Location | Chad |
| Nearest city | Fada, Ennedi, Chad |
| Coordinates | 17°00′00″N 19°40′00″E / 17.0°N 19.6666°E[1] |
| Area | 2,110 km2 (810 sq mi) |
| Established | 1967 |
History
editThe reserve was established in 1967, covering an area of 2,110 km2 (810 sq mi), with terrain in the elevation range of 500–1,000 m (1,600–3,300 ft). Its primary aim was to protect Barbary sheep.[1][2]
Geography
editThe reserve is located to the south-east of Fada town. Its terrain, in the elevation range of 500–1,000 m (1,600–3,300 ft), forms part of the transition zone between the Sahelian and Saharan zones. It is marked by a rocky ridge divided by deep gorges.[1] Barren sand dunes are interlaced with a few wadis.[3] Mean annual rainfall is very scanty, with about 50 mm (2 in) falling in July and August. The escarpment opens into a north-facing gorge, 1.5 km (0.93 mi) in length, where there are six large ponds sourced by springs.[1]
Environment
editThe gorges in the reserve are characterised by riparian forest of Vachellia nilotica, Vachellia seyal, Breonadia salicina, Balanites aegyptiaca, Boscia angustifolia, Ficus spp., and Vitex doniana. The ponds in the reserve are vegetated with Cyperus, Juncus, Phragmites, Scirpus, Typha, Nymphaea and Potamogeton spp.[1] It is considered a depauperate ecosystem, with vegetation of mostly Vachellia and Balanites on the banks of the wadis.[3]
Fauna
editThe reserve has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports significant populations of African collared-doves, crowned and Lichtenstein's sandgrouse, Egyptian nightjars, Pharaoh eagle-owls, Sennar penduline-tits, greater hoopoe-larks, bar-tailed and desert larks, cricket warblers, fulvous babblers chestnut-bellied starlings, black scrub-robins, blackstarts, white-crowned wheatears and Sudan golden sparrows.[4]
Mammals include lions, Northeast African cheetahs, addaxes, Barbary sheep and Dorcas gazelles.[1]
Species of fish present include blackstripe barb and redbelly tilapia.[1]
Conservation
editAs the reserve is in the extreme north-eastern region of the country it is mostly undisturbed. Apart from grazing of cattle by local nomads, poaching is also prevalent to some degree.[1] Due to civil strife in Chad since 1972 there has been a lack of personnel and equipment to provide security for conservation and prevent poaching.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h "Chad" (pdf). Birlife International Organization. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
- ^ "Fada Archei Faunal Reserve". Protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
- ^ a b c "Ecologically Sensitive Sites in Africa. Volume 5: Sahel". Chad. Archive.org. pp. 19–29. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
- ^ "Fada Archei". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-30.