Nisyros island and surrounding islets (1095)
Greece, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Nisos Nisyros kai nisides
Central coordinates: Latitude: 36.5833, Longitude: 27.1667
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 698
Area of KBA (km2): 47.25285
Protected area coverage (%): 99.26
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A volcanic island south of the island of Kos. The island is covered by a mixture of phrygana, maquis and areas of Quercus and Pinus woodland. Half of the islet of Giali is Pinus forest the other half a pumice-stone mine. Human activities include livestock-farming, tourism, 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: The area is important for migratory species.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (80%) | fisheries/aquaculture | not utilised (10%) | urban/industrial/transport (10%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 15 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 3 | |
| Forest | 5 | |
| Marine Neritic | 5 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 3 | |
| Shrubland | 70 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats to the site are from forest destruction for firewood, pumice-stone mining on Giali, overgrazing, fires set by shepherds, increasing tourism and seasonal hunting. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Only in the future | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Only in the future |