Key Biodiversity Areas

Mounts Orliakas and Tsourgiakas (1092)
Greece, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Ori Orliakas kai Tsourgiakas
Central coordinates: Latitude: 40.0333, Longitude: 21.2167
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 800 to 1400
Area of KBA (km2): 103.36224
Protected area coverage (%): 98.77
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: An area of low limestone mountains and gorges around the River Venetikos. The river has large areas of shingle along its course. The main habitats are oak Quercus forest, species-rich mixed forest and open wooded pasture. Human activities include forestry, recreation, livestock-farming 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 a range of species associated with forest and pasture.

Habitats


Land use: agriculture | forestry | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport | water management
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Grassland17
Wetlands(Inland)17
Shrubland17
Artificial - Terrestrial17
Forest17
Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks)17

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are from water abstraction from the river, unsustainable hunting, road building, recreational activities and undergrazing of the pastures.