Lagoons of Kerkyra island (1169)
Greece, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Limnothalasses Kerkyras
Central coordinates: Latitude: 39.4500, Longitude: 19.9167
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 496
Area of KBA (km2): 19.89306
Protected area coverage (%): 76.27
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site covers four separate coastal wetlands in Corfu. These include brackish lagoons (Korission, Antinioti, and Chalikopoulou), saltpans (Lefkimis) and freshwater marshes and sand-dunes (Korission-Antinioti).
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: Korission and Antinioti lagoons are important for cormorants, herons and ducks, while Lefkimi lagoon is important for shorebirds. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Phalacrocorax pygmeus (passage), Aythya nyroca (passage), Aquila clanga (wintering).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 25 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 25 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 25 | |
| Shrubland | 25 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are from water management and drainage and intensive tourism development. Chalikopoulou lagoon is seriously threatened from infilling, urbanization and the expansion of an airport. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.