Nea Fokaia marshes (1094)
Greece, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Eli Neas Fokaias
Central coordinates: Latitude: 40.1167, Longitude: 23.3167
System: freshwater, marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 20
Area of KBA (km2): 4.17114
Protected area coverage (%): 95.34
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A coastal wetland consisting of two periodically inundated brackish marshes, sand-dunes and a 90 ha pine Pinus woodland. The existing drainage works in both marshes drain the major part of the wetland in the summer.
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 and passage waterbirds. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aythya nyroca (4 passage individuals), Haliaeetus albicilla.
Habitats
Land use: tourism/recreation (50%) | water management (70%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 25 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 75 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Drainage is a major threat to the area, with a pumping station and canals within the site. Garbage dumping is leading to a gradual infilling of part of the site (`Other' threats, above). The beach and sand-dune area are used for recreation in the summer. The numbers of wintering birds are thought to be small as a result of hunting.