Key Biodiversity Areas

Ría de Arosa (O Grove) estuary (1645)
Spain, Europe

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Ría de Arousa - Corrubedo
Central coordinates: Latitude: 42.4667, Longitude: -8.8500
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 50
Area of KBA (km2): 51.8239
Protected area coverage (%): 83.36
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: A small harbour to the south of the Ría de Arosa, with large intertidal mudflats and sandbanks. Human activities include fishing, shellfish collecting and tourism.
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: This is an important wintering and passage site for waterbirds.

Habitats

Land use: agriculture (5%) | fisheries/aquaculture (30%) | not utilised (60%) | tourism/recreation (5%)
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Marine Intertidal25
Artificial - Terrestrial10
Marine Neritic40
Marine Coastal/Supratidal25

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats include an industrial waste dump and residential land-use. Tourism and outdoor sports cause disturbance to shorebirds.
Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
Agriculture & aquacultureWood & pulp plantationsSmall-holder plantationsOngoing
Agriculture & aquacultureMarine & freshwater aquacultureSubsistence/artisinal aquacultureOngoing
Agriculture & aquacultureMarine & freshwater aquacultureIndustrial aquacultureOngoing
Biological resource useHunting & collecting terrestrial animalsIntentional use (species being assessed is the target)Ongoing
Biological resource useFishing & harvesting aquatic resourcesUnintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]Only in the future
Biological resource useGathering terrestrial plantsUnintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target)Ongoing
Biological resource useFishing & harvesting aquatic resourcesUnintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]Ongoing
Natural system modificationsDams & water management/useSmall damsOngoing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesInvasive non-native/alien species/diseasesNamed speciesOngoing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesProblematic native species/diseasesNamed speciesOngoing
PollutionDomestic & urban waste waterType Unknown/UnrecordedOngoing
PollutionIndustrial & military effluentsOil spillsOngoing
PollutionAgricultural & forestry effluentsNutrient loadsOngoing
PollutionAir-borne pollutantsSmogOngoing
PollutionExcess energyNoise pollutionOngoing
PollutionExcess energyLight pollutionOngoing
Residential & commercial developmentHousing & urban areasOngoing
Residential & commercial developmentCommercial & industrial areasOngoing
Residential & commercial developmentTourism & recreation areasOngoing
Energy production & miningMining & quarryingOngoing
Transportation & service corridorsRoads & railroadsOngoing
Transportation & service corridorsUtility & service linesOngoing
Transportation & service corridorsShipping lanesOngoing
Human intrusions & disturbanceRecreational activitiesOngoing
Human intrusions & disturbanceWork & other activitiesOngoing
Natural system modificationsOther ecosystem modificationsOngoing
PollutionGarbage & solid wasteOngoing
Climate change & severe weatherDroughtsOngoing
Climate change & severe weatherStorms & floodingOngoing