Amvrakikos gulf (1036)
Greece, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1d, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Amvrakikos kolpos
Central coordinates: Latitude: 39.0000, Longitude: 21.0000
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 450
Area of KBA (km2): 262.48793
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The northern section of the site is formed by the deltas of the Louros and Arachtos rivers. It consists of brackish lagoons, a sandy coastal strip, saltmarsh, reedbeds (Phragmites), wet meadows, mudflats and remnant patches of alluvial forest. The lagoons are all used as fisheries.
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 an important site for wintering ducks and geese, breeding, passage and wintering raptors and migratory waders. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Phalacrocorax pygmeus (wintering), Haliaeetus albicilla (wintering), Aquila heliaca (non-breeding), Falco naumanni (passage), Gallinago media (passage).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (25%) | fisheries/aquaculture (70%) | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation (5%) | urban/industrial/transport (5%) | water management (70%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 5 | |
| Grassland | 5 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 20 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 33 | |
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The site is threatened by water-management schemes, large-scale work to improve fish production in the lagoons, intensive agriculture, hunting, and urban and industrial expansion. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |