Key Biodiversity Areas

Mount Ochi and surrounding marine area (1051)
Greece, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1bA1dD1a
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Oros Ochi kai gyro thalassia periochi
Central coordinates: Latitude: 38.0500, Longitude: 24.4500
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 1398
Area of KBA (km2): 299.91908
Protected area coverage (%): 98.12
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: A coastal mountain dominated by grazed scrub with numerous springs and streams. Livestock-farming is the main activity.
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: The site is particularly important for passage migrants. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Larus audouinii (non-breeding).
Delineation rationale: 2012-12-17 (BL Secretariat): site area updated from 18000 ha to 29992 ha after addition of seaward extension to the site in October 2012 for the Marine eAtlas.

Habitats


Land use: agriculture (75%) | fisheries/aquaculture (10%) | forestry (10%) | tourism/recreation (5%)
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Forest18
Grassland1
Artificial - Terrestrial11
Marine Coastal/Supratidal1
Marine Neritic10
Shrubland48
Wetlands(Inland)4
Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks)1

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Expansion of the road network and the ensuing development of tourism pose a serious threat to the area. Other threats are from mining in the western and northern parts of the site, abandonment of land, overgrazing, the use of poisoned baits, and the planned construction of wind-farms within the area. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.