The Site is a vast wetland complex which includes a network of oases, the reservoir of the historic Hassan Ad-Dakhil dam, small rivers, irrigation channels and marshes. The Site is part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is recognized as a Site of Biological and Ecological Interest. It serves as an important wintering site for migratory birds, particularly sparrows and the globally vulnerable Houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata) and the near-threatened marbled teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris). Agriculture is a dominant activity alongside sheep farming. Water management remains a critical challenge, as the dam’s regulation of downstream flows has led to seasonal river desiccation, exacerbated by increasing abstraction for irrigation and human consumption. Additionally, prolonged droughts over the past two decades and high evaporation rates have contributed to widespread soil salinization, posing further ecological and agricultural concerns.