Sárvíz Valley (1417)
Hungary, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Sárvíz völgye
Central coordinates: Latitude: 47.0000, Longitude: 18.5500
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 92 to 111
Area of KBA (km2): 53.13371
Protected area coverage (%): 92.87
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A well-drained low-lying flood-plain situated along the Sárvíz canal, between the two loess plateaus of Mezõföld. The IBA includes fish-ponds with fringing reedbeds (Phragmites), and surrounding Populus and Robinia woodlands, pastures and saline lakes. Human activities include grazing, arable farming and reed-harvesting.
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 geese. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aythya nyroca (18 breeding pairs), Haliaeetus albicilla (3-5 wintering birds).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (40%) | fisheries/aquaculture (20%) | forestry (15%) | hunting (60%) | water management (25%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 40 | |
| Grassland | 20 | |
| Forest | 15 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 25 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are inappropriate water management in the fish-ponds, disturbance to birds caused by both hunting and attempts to protect fish stocks, and the burning of reeds Phragmites. Wildfowl shooting on Rétszilas fish-ponds is banned, and management planning is underway.