Souss-Massa National Park

The Souss-Massa National Park (Parc National de Souss-Massa) is a 33,800 hectare national park on the Atlantic coast of Morocco which was created in 1991. It lies between Agadir to the north and Sidi Ifni to the south and its centre is at 9°40'W 30°5'N. The estuary of the Oued Souss is the northern limit of the park, and that of the Oued Massa is near the southern end. 30,000 ha of land near Aglou, south of the park, is also included in the site because it is sometimes used as a feeding area by the northern bald ibis. The habitat is grazed steppe with dunes, beaches and wetlands. The soil is mainly sandy with some rockier areas.[2]

Souss-Massa
The Oued Massa at the center of the park
Map showing the location of Souss-Massa
Map showing the location of Souss-Massa
LocationMorocco
Coordinates30°5′N 9°40′W
Area338 km2 (131 sq mi)
Established1991
Official nameZones humides de Souss-Massa
Designated15 January 2005
Reference no.1487[1]

Fauna

The park's main conservation importance is that it holds three of the four Moroccan colonies of the northern bald ibis (Geronticus eremita). Together with the fourth site at nearby Tamri, it holds 95% of the world's truly wild breeding birds of this endangered species.[3][4] The ibis colonies and roost-sites are located on coastal cliffs within the National Park, and the coastal steppes and fields are used as feeding areas. The park has a nature trail at Oued Souss and a visitor centre at Oued Massa.[2]

Northern bald ibis

The Oued Massa holds water throughout the year and has breeding marbled ducks, a globally threatened species.[2][5] It is the only known Moroccan breeding site for the glossy ibis. The two estuaries are important for migrants, especially waders and gulls. European spoonbill and Audouin's gull winter in the park. Other notable breeding bird species are red-necked nightjar, thick-billed lark, Tristram's warbler and Moussier's redstart.[2]

Souss-Massa also holds captive-breeding programmes for four threatened North African ungulates: scimitar oryx, addax, dama gazelle and dorcas gazelle, that are kept in separate enclosures within the park. The reintroduction of the North African ostrich - which is extinct north of the Sahara - is also underway.[6]

Threats

The park is threatened by increasing pressures of the growing human population and the construction of summer chalets is increasing around Aglou. A large-scale hotel development planned for the coast at Tifnit, an area that includes important feeding areas for the bald ibis, has been suspended.[2]

International cooperation

In regard to international cooperation and exchanges, the Souss-Massa National Park has received technical support from the Teide National Park (Tenerife, Spain).[7]

See also

References
  1. "Zones humides de Souss-Massa". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. "Parc National de Souss-Massa and Aglou". BirdLife IBA Factsheet. BirdLife International. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  3. BirdLife International (2018). "Geronticus eremita". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22697488A130895601. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22697488A130895601.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021. Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is critically endangered
  4. "Northern Bald Ibis — BirdLife Species Factsheet". BirdLife International. Retrieved 14 November 2008.
  5. BirdLife International (2017). "Marmaronetta angustirostris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22680339A110054350. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22680339A110054350.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021. Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is vulnerable.
  6. "Birdlife Data Zone". Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  7. Cooperación internacional entre parques nacionales Archived 4 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
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