Northern Evros and Ardas riparian forest (1149)
Greece, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Parapotamio dasos voreiou Evrou kai Arda
Central coordinates: Latitude: 41.5000, Longitude: 26.5000
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 30 to 60
Area of KBA (km2): 189.04059
Protected area coverage (%): 94.52
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This site stretches along the River Evros, from Pithio to Ormenio, and part of the River Ardas. Riverine forest is dominated by Populus and Salix species. The forest exists in a mosaic of grassland, scrub, freshwater ponds with reedbeds (Phragmites) and some arable land. A large part of the area is a military zone.
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 very important for breeding, migrating and wintering waterbirds, raptors and passerines. Two heronries with more than 250 pairs of Nycticorax nycticorax, Egretta garzetta and Ardea cinerea lie within the IBA.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (20%) | fisheries/aquaculture (10%) | military (80%) | urban/industrial/transport (10%) | water management (30%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 10 | |
| Grassland | 5 | |
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 24 | |
| Forest | 57 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The heronry at Dikaia is threatened by logging of the trees. There is a rubbish tip in the forest of the River Arda (`Other' threats). A further threat is from agricultural intensification, particularly increased use of fertilizers and pesticides, irrigation and drainage. Hunting is a threat in winter.