Key Biodiversity Areas

Axios, Loudias and Aliakmonas rivers' deltas (1003)
Greece, Europe

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Delta Axiou, Loudia, Aliakmona
Central coordinates: Latitude: 40.5000, Longitude: 22.7167
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 5
Area of KBA (km2): 179.2004
Protected area coverage (%): 98.20
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: A coastal wetland of small lagoons, sandflats, and alluvial forests dominated by Tamarix, Alnus, and Salix. Human activities include rice production, livestock farming, fishing and mussel culture.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: This is a very important site for breeding, passage and wintering waterbirds. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aythya nyroca (passage), Haliaeetus albicilla (wintering), Aquila clanga (1-3 wintering individuals), Gallinago media (passage). The site holds 20,000 or more waterbirds in winter, on a regular basis (including Phalacrocorax pygmeus 5,000; Anas penelope 1,000; Calidris alpina 2,500; Larus ridibundus 7,000; Larus cachinnans 5,000).

Habitats

Land use: agriculture (80%) | fisheries/aquaculture (30%) | hunting (50%) | nature conservation and research (30%) | tourism/recreation (10%)
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Forest10
Marine Neritic24
Marine Coastal/Supratidal24
Marine Intertidal12
Artificial - Terrestrial30

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats include illegal housing, intensive livestock farming, and water pollution from industry and intensive agriculture. Conservation projects have included LIFE projects on Numenius tenuirostris, Phalacrocorax pygmeus, and Anser erythropus. The area is a candidate SAC.