Kalloni Gulf, Lesvos (1086)
Greece, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Kolpos Kallonis Lesvou
Central coordinates: Latitude: 39.1667, Longitude: 26.2167
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 100
Area of KBA (km2): 163.72085
Protected area coverage (%): 98.25
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A large bay with a shallow brackish zones, small freshwater marshes, saltmarshes, and saltpans. Human activities include agriculture, salt production, stock-raising, fishing, hunting, and recreation.
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 migratory and wintering waterbirds. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Phalacrocorax pygmeus (maximum 15 wintering individuals), Aythya nyroca (passage), Aquila clanga (wintering), Falco naumanni (breeding), Gallinago media (passage), Larus audouinii.
Delineation rationale: 2012-12-17 (BL Secretariat): site area updated from 7800 ha to 11300 ha after addition of seaward extension to the site in October 2012 for the Marine eAtlas.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 17 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 17 | |
| Shrubland | 17 | |
| Forest | 17 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 17 | |
| Marine Neritic | 17 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats to the site include hunting, water pollution from industry and agriculture, filling-in of wetlands, the creation of embankments, overgrazing, fires, the expansion of cultivation, and new tourism development. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.