Key Biodiversity Areas

Dia island, Crete (1075)
Greece, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Nisos Dia Kritis
Central coordinates: Latitude: 35.4500, Longitude: 25.2167
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 268
Area of KBA (km2): 11.96572
Protected area coverage (%): 98.80
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: An island in the Gulf of Iraklio surrounded by small rocky islets. The island has steep cliffs covered with phrygana and other scrub.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: This is an important site for breeding seabirds and species associated with coastal cliffs.

Habitats


Land use: fisheries/aquaculture (5%) | hunting (90%) | tourism/recreation (5%)
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Shrubland75
Marine Neritic4
Marine Coastal/Supratidal21

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Introduced goats have caused serious overgrazing. Tourism development is a serious threat for the near future. The area is a candidate SAC.