Islands and islets of northern Sporades and northwestern coast of Alonnisos (1084)
Greece, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Nisia kai nisides voreion Sporadon kai voreiodytikes aktes Alonnisou
Central coordinates: Latitude: 39.3000, Longitude: 24.0667
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 570
Area of KBA (km2): 1918.42424
Protected area coverage (%): 97.37
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A group of small, uninhabited rocky islands in the northern Sporades, covered by phrygana, except Piperi island which is wooded. Human activities include stock-raising and fishing.
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 species breeding on coastal cliffs, for migratory waders, raptors and passerines.
Delineation rationale: 2012-12-17 (BL Secretariat): site area updated from 5800 ha to 191842 ha after addition of seaward extension to the site in October 2012 for the Marine eAtlas.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | nature conservation and research (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 5 | |
| Shrubland | 71 | |
| Marine Neritic | 10 | |
| Forest | 4 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: All the islands are overgrazed. Disturbance from military activities caused the abandonment of a Larus audouinii colony in 1996 and 1997. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.