Kasos island and surrounding islets (1079)
Greece, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Nisos Kasos kai nisides
Central coordinates: Latitude: 35.4000, Longitude: 27.0000
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 600
Area of KBA (km2): 159.67788
Protected area coverage (%): 99.23
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A large island and the nearby islets dominated by maquis. Human activities include livestock-farming, fishing 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 breeding seabirds.
Delineation rationale: 2012-12-17 (BL Secretariat): site area updated from 8000 ha to 15968 ha after addition of seaward extension to the site in October 2012 for the Marine eAtlas.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (90%) | fisheries/aquaculture (5%) | tourism/recreation (10%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 10 | |
| Shrubland | 80 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are from overgrazing and fires. The area is a candidate SAC.