Key Biodiversity Areas

Eo river estuary-Barayo beach-Ría de Foz (1648)
Spain, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Ría del Eo (Ribadeo) - Playa de Barayo - Ría de Foz
Central coordinates: Latitude: 43.5500, Longitude: -7.0667
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 50
Area of KBA (km2): 104.25746
Protected area coverage (%): 75.46
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: This site includes intertidal mudflats and sandbanks, saltmarsh, cliffs, beaches and a marine section.
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 area for wintering and passage wildfowl and waders and breeding seabirds. It is also one of the most important sites for waterbirds on the Cantabric coast.

Habitats


Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture (26%) | forestry | urban/industrial/transport
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Marine Intertidal37
Artificial - Terrestrial37
Marine Neritic26

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats include intensive fishing and shellfish collection, the abandonment of traditional land-use, and recreation and tourism. A recently built dyke has probably caused a decline in bird numbers.