Lakes Volvi, Koroneia and Rentina Gorge (1006)
Greece, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1d, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Limnes Volvi, Koroneia kai Stena Rentinas
Central coordinates: Latitude: 40.6833, Longitude: 23.3667
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 700
Area of KBA (km2): 430.51488
Protected area coverage (%): 98.34
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site comprises two freshwater lakes and a gorge. Lake Koronia is shallow, eutrophic and polluted. Lake Volvi is deeper and overflows through the Rentina gorge. The gorge is dominated by maquis and riverine scrub.
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 site is important for passage and wintering waterbirds. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aythya nyroca (minimum 43 wintering individuals), Oxyura leucocephala (wintering), Haliaeetus albicilla (wintering), Falco naumanni (passage). The site holds 20,000 or more waterbirds, on a regular basis (including Podiceps cristatus 6,729; Aythya ferina 8,029; Aythya fuligula 1,361; Fulica atra 12,736).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (55%) | fisheries/aquaculture (27%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 6 | |
| Shrubland | 20 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 47 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 27 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Declining water-levels and water pollution, from agricultural and industrial sources, are a severe threat. A pollution incident in 1995 left thousands of waterbirds dead. In the gorge, fire is a serious problem and has previously caused severe damage. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of ground water (agricultural use) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Domestic & urban waste water | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Industrial & military effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |