Ikaria island (1106)
Greece, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Nisos Ikaria
Central coordinates: Latitude: 37.6000, Longitude: 26.1667
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 1037
Area of KBA (km2): 176.83998
Protected area coverage (%): 54.78
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A mountainous island forested in the centre with pine Pinus and oak Quercus. The western side of the island is dominated by maquis, the east by phrygana. There are a number of small coastal wetlands and artificial wetlands. Human activities include livestock-farming, angling, hunting, and tourism.
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 site is important for breeding raptors and passage migrants. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Haliaeetus albicilla, Falco naumanni (3-5 breeding pairs).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (50%) | fisheries/aquaculture (5%) | not utilised (10%) | tourism/recreation (20%) | urban/industrial/transport (5%) | water management (10%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 12 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 20 | |
| Forest | 25 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 23 | |
| Shrubland | 20 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are the grazing of livestock and the building of new roads. Hunting and tourism are limited. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.