Demir Kapija Gorge (124)
North Macedonia, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2016
National site name: Demirkapiska Klisura
Central coordinates: Latitude: 41.3898, Longitude: 22.3202
Elevation (m): 110 to 899
Area of KBA (km2): 119.97966
Protected area coverage (%): 3.12
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site includes the Vardar gorge, Celevecka river and Krastavec ridge with cliffs and rocky hillsides, scrub, and woodland; there are also small areas of marsh, damp woodland, and some steppe habitat in the Vardar valley. Mainly inaccessible, some of the area is used as agricultural land, while hunting and cattle-grazing take place.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas) KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Mediterranean Hotspot (2017). Taxonomy, nomenclature and global threat category follow the 2016 IUCN Red List.
Additional biodiversity: Breeding species include Ciconia nigra (1-2 pairs), Pernis apivorus (1-2 pairs), Milvus migrans (2-3 pairs), Circaetus gallicus (2 pairs), Accipiter brevipes (1 pair), Buteo rufinus (1 pair), Aquila chrysaetos (2 pairs), Hieraaetus pennatus (1 pair), Falco biarmicus (1-2 pairs), F. peregrinus (1 pair), Alectoris graeca, Bubo bubo (1-2 pairs), Coracias garrulus (3-4 pairs) and Cercotrichas galactotes. Gypaetus barbatus, Aegypius monachus and Falco cherrug also occur.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (25%) | forestry (10%) | hunting (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 22 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 9 | |
| Shrubland | 30 | |
| Other | 9 | |
| Grassland | 1 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 14 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Hunting, theft of raptor eggs and young by foreigners, road and quarry building, and cutting of trees and bushes are problems at the site. Illegal poisoning and trapping of wildlife probably also occurs. The area is a proposed Ornithological Reserve.