On Sunday, 18 January, as part of the International Waterbird Census 2026 (IWC 2026), the census team conducted systematic surveys to document waterbird species and their numbers at several dams located south of Tripoli. The surveyed sites included Wadi Al-Majenin dam, Wadi Ghan dam, and Wadi Zaret dam.
The census activities were carried out by a joint field team representing the Libyan Society for Birds, the Ministry of Environment, and the University of Tripoli, in accordance with internationally approved scientific methodologies adopted for IWC program.
Field observation:
No waterbirds were recorded at Wadi Zaret dam. This absence is attributed to the near-complete drying of the dam, which constitutes an important environmental indicator reflecting the low rainfall experienced during the current season and its direct impact on inland Wetlands.
These results reaffirm the significance of dams and inland Wetlands as vital wintering sites for waterbirds and highlight the importance of continued environmental monitoring to assess climate change and its effects on biodiversity and water resources in Libya.