Key Biodiversity Areas

Kolon Lake (1395)
Hungary, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Kolon-tó
Central coordinates: Latitude: 46.7667, Longitude: 19.3167
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 97 to 104
Area of KBA (km2): 36.00241
Protected area coverage (%): 92.32
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: The IBA is situated on the sandy alluvial fan of Kiskunság, near to the village of Izsák. It consists of a large lake almost entirely covered by reeds Phragmites, and surrounded by wet grassland and sand-dunes. Human activities include grazing, haymaking and reed-harvesting (`Other' land-use, below).
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: An important site for breeding herons (Ardeidae). Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Haliaeetus albicilla, Crex crex (no data), Otis tarda (2-3 individuals).

Habitats


Land use: agriculture (30%) | forestry (30%) | nature conservation and research (50%)
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Artificial - Terrestrial30
Grassland15
Wetlands(Inland)40
Forest15

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats to the IBA include natural succession, inappropriate reedbed and grassland management, and the early cutting of hay. Restoration work to create more open water is being funded through PHARE, and a management plan exists for the site.