Kotychi lagoon (1052)
Greece, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Limnothalassa Kotychi
Central coordinates: Latitude: 38.0000, Longitude: 21.3000
System: freshwater, marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 2
Area of KBA (km2): 29.54347
Protected area coverage (%): 99.44
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A small brackish lagoon separated from the sea by dunes and surrounded by patches of saltmarsh and agricultural land. Human activities include aquaculture, agriculture, and tourism.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: The site is important for breeding, passage and wintering waterbirds. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Pelecanus crispus (5-11 non-breeding individuals), Aythya nyroca (passage).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (40%) | fisheries/aquaculture (20%) | tourism/recreation (15%) | urban/industrial/transport (5%) | water management (20%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 14 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 23 | |
| Forest | 21 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 11 | |
| Shrubland | 20 | |
| Marine Neritic | 11 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Hunting is a serious problem, despite a partial prohibition. Additional threats are from aquaculture, road construction and tourism development. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.