Lefka Ori mountains, Crete (1068)
Greece, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Lefka Ori
Central coordinates: Latitude: 35.3000, Longitude: 24.0000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 600 to 2450
Area of KBA (km2): 543.76315
Protected area coverage (%): 96.30
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A rugged mountainous area of Crete. The northern area of the site is dominated by maquis, the south by conifer forests. The main human activities are hunting, livestock-farming 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: This is an important site for breeding and passage raptors, and for species characteristic of scrub and montane habitats.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (70%) | tourism/recreation (30%) | water management (5%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 20 | |
| Forest | 15 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 45 | |
| Grassland | 20 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The construction of new roads is a major threat. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.