Gemenc (1402)
Hungary, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Gemenc
Central coordinates: Latitude: 46.1167, Longitude: 18.7500
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 78 to 97
Area of KBA (km2): 178.36892
Protected area coverage (%): 98.01
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A large stretch of the Danube flood-plain, north of the town of Baja. The IBA covers a complex of habitats, including backwaters, marshes, meadows and both softwood and hardwood flood-plain forest, although approximately half of the forested area consists of plantations of non-native poplar Populus.
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: An important area for wintering wildfowl and local breeding populations of lowland forest birds.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (10%) | fisheries/aquaculture (10%) | forestry (80%) | hunting (90%) | nature conservation and research (100%) | tourism/recreation (15%) | water management (15%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 40 | |
| Grassland | 10 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 10 | |
| Forest | 40 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threat is posed by forestry and hunting, both of which lead to the degradation of ancient woodlands (in the case of the latter due to overstocking with game species). These activities also cause disturbance to breeding and wintering birds. A long-term research and nest protection effort is ongoing for Ciconia nigra and Haliaeetus albicilla.