Lake Kourna, Almyros delta and Georgioupolis coast, Crete (1069)
Greece, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Limni Kourna, delta Almyrou kai paralia Georgioupolis Kritis
Central coordinates: Latitude: 35.3500, Longitude: 24.2667
System: freshwater, marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 527
Area of KBA (km2): 45.26241
Protected area coverage (%): 92.89
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site contains one of the few freshwater lakes in Crete, as well as coastal marshes, a brackish lake, sand-dunes, cliffs and a marine zone.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: This is an important site for breeding, migrant and wintering waterbirds and passerines. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Phalacrocorax pygmeus (wintering), Aythya nyroca (wintering), Aquila clanga (passage), Gallinago media (passage, wintering), Larus audouinii (wintering).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (60%) | tourism/recreation (10%) | urban/industrial/transport (10%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 30 | |
| Forest | 5 | |
| Grassland | 5 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 8 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 8 | |
| Marine Neritic | 8 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 20 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 16 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are from the building of hotels, disturbance from tourists, groundwater abstraction and hunting. There has been a LIFE project investigating protection and management of the site. The site is a candidate SAC.