Divari Pylou (Gialova) lagoon and Sfaktiria island (1061)
Greece, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Limnothalassa Divari Pylou (Gialova) kai nisos Sfaktiria
Central coordinates: Latitude: 36.9667, Longitude: 21.6667
System: marine, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 10.06538
Protected area coverage (%): 98.08
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The wetland can be divided into brackish lagoons and freshwater marshes. Beyond these is a buffer zone of cultivated fields and maquis. The main human activities are fishing, livestock- and arable-farming, tourism and hunting.
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: This is an important site for wintering and passage waterbirds. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Pelecanus crispus (passage), Aythya nyroca (10-20 passage individuals), Falco naumanni (10-20 passage individuals), Gallinago media (10-20 passage individuals).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (14%) | fisheries/aquaculture (65%) | tourism/recreation (30%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 35 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 35 | |
| Shrubland | 10 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 20 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are fishing, increasing salinity in the freshwater marsh as a result of ground and surface water abstraction for agriculture, infilling of the wetland and hunting. The area is a candidate SAC.