Key Biodiversity Areas

Mount Giouchtas, Crete (1074)
Greece, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Oros Giouchtas
Central coordinates: Latitude: 35.2500, Longitude: 25.1667
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 130 to 809
Area of KBA (km2): 8.54827
Protected area coverage (%): 66.71
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: A rocky mountain with very steep slopes covered with phrygana, maquis, and olive-groves. Human activities include stock-raising, agriculture 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 species associated with Mediterranean scrub and olive-groves.

Habitats


Land use: agriculture (95%) | not utilised (5%)
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks)5
Artificial - Terrestrial20
Shrubland75

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are from hunting and infrastructure development. The area is protected as an important archaeological site. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.