Southwestern Lesvos and Petrified forest (1131)
Greece, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Notiodytiki Lesvos kai Apolithomeno Dasos
Central coordinates: Latitude: 39.1667, Longitude: 26.0000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 799
Area of KBA (km2): 288.215209
Protected area coverage (%): 99.51
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A rugged area dominated by phrygana with dispersed Quercus macrolepis. The inaccessible northern areas of the site are dominated by maquis. Human activities include livestock-farming, tourism and quarrying.
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 and passage raptors and also other migrants. Breeding birds include nine of the 21 species in Europe that are restricted (when breeding) to the Mediterranean biome. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Haliaeetus albicilla (non-breeding), Aquila clanga (non-breeding), Larus audouinii (non-breeding).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (70%) | nature conservation and research (10%) | not utilised (10%) | tourism/recreation (10%) | urban/industrial/transport (5%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 10 | |
| Forest | 10 | |
| Shrubland | 67 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 10 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are overgrazing and tourist developments. A large dam and associated infrastructure are currently being constructed. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.