Lake Kis-Balaton (1388)
Hungary, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Kis-Balaton
Central coordinates: Latitude: 46.6667, Longitude: 17.2167
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 104 to 140
Area of KBA (km2): 120.72795
Protected area coverage (%): 96.03
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Situated south-west of Lake Balaton at the mouth of the Zala river. Originally part of the lake, the site has silted up and reverted to mire. In 1992 51 km2of adjacent agricultural lands were flooded, and open water and extensive reedbeds (Phragmites) and sedgebeds (Carex) are now the main habitat types. Human activities include construction works, angling, fishing and reed-harvesting (`Other' land-use, below).
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: This site is important for breeding herons (Ardeidae) and migratory wildfowl, especially geese. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Haliaeetus albicilla (1-2 breeding pairs; 10-15 wintering birds), Crex crex (10-15 breeding pairs). Nationally important for breeding Phalacrocorax carbo (minimum 950 pairs).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (20%) | fisheries/aquaculture (7%) | forestry (10%) | nature conservation and research (50%) | not utilised (5%) | water management (60%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 50 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 45 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: A change in the ecological character of the area has been noted following recent land-management work. Spring floods destroy the clutches of reedbed-nesting birds, and fish-kills and cases of botulism occur regularly due to pollution from sewage outfalls and contaminated sediments (`Other' threat, above). An environmental impact-monitoring programme was initiated in 1992, and wildfowl hunting has been banned.