Alifuuto

Arbowerow Nature Reserve, also known as Alifuuto, is situated in central-southern Somalia on the lower reaches of the Shabeelle river, north of the town of Baraawe.^[1] Its Key Biodiversity Area record describes Acacia-Commiphora bushland and thicket with significant areas of swamp and riverine habitat on the Shabeelle flood-plain, extending to a width of 25 km, and states that the site has been proposed as a National Park.^[1] Somalia's 2015 biodiversity strategy lists "Alifuuto (Arbowerow) Nature Reserve" but says there is no systematic information on its status and that anecdotal information suggests a far from satisfactory condition.^[2] IUCN's 1992 inventory of the world's protected areas listed Alifuuto (Arbowerow) as a nature reserve in IUCN category IV, covering 180,000 ha.^[3]

Mammals recorded as occurring, or formerly occurring, at the site include the African elephant (listed as endangered), beisa oryx, lesser kudu, waterbuck, gerenuk, oribi and Damaliscus lunatus.^[1] On the banks of the Shabeelle within the site is a mixed breeding colony of long-tailed cormorant, great cormorant, black-headed heron and great egret, with about 100 pairs of each.^[1] Among Somali-Masai biome birds, Mirafra hypermetra, Macronyx aurantiigula and Turdus tephronotus have been recorded from few other Important Bird Areas in Somalia.^[1]

The Key Biodiversity Area record describes the vegetation as primarily Acacia-Commiphora bushland and thicket, with significant areas of swamp and riverine habitat on the flood-plain of the Shabeelle.^[1]

The reserve lies on the flood-plain of the lower Shabeelle at an elevation of 10 to 50 m.^[1]

Somalia's year follows four seasons: Jilal from December to March, the harshest dry season; Gu from April to June, the main rainy season; Xagaa from July to September, a second dry season; and Dayr from October to December, the shortest rainy season.^[4] Below Mogadishu the Shebelle becomes seasonal and typically dries up near the mouth of the Jubba River, though in heavy rain it can reach the ocean via the Jubba.^[5]

The UN List of Protected Areas of Somalia has no Alifuuto entry; it carries "Arbawerow" among the national parks, designated, with year and area not reported.^[6] The World Database on Protected Areas likewise has no Alifuuto record; its Arbawerow National Park entry reports no area and gives a reference point at about 1.47° N, 44.02° E.^[7] The Key Biodiversity Area record says the site has been proposed as a National Park. A 2011 note by BirdLife's secretariat changed its area from 0 to 180,000 ha, based on the area then given for Alifuuto Nature Reserve in the World Database on Protected Areas, but the factsheet's current summary gives the site's area as 0 km2.^[1] Eleven wildlife areas have been declared in Somalia since the 1970s, but only two were thought to be functional, and no formal protection has been offered to any of them since the early 1990s.^[8] IUCN's 1992 inventory described Balcad and Alifuuto as the only Somali nature reserves then functional, and noted a World Bank project based in the Alifuuto swamp area.^[3]

The reserve lies on the lower Shabeelle north of the town of Baraawe.^[1] The World Database on Protected Areas gives a reference point at about 1.47° N, 44.02° E, in Lower Shabelle region about 40 km north of Baraawe.^[9] Travellers considering a visit to Somalia should check current government travel advisories first, because security conditions vary widely and change quickly.

The Key Biodiversity Area record notes that large parts of the surrounding area have been converted to agriculture, a threat particularly significant for the remaining riverine vegetation.^[1] Nature Somalia states that no protected areas remained functional after the 1991 collapse of the central government.^[10]