Muniellos (1651)
Spain, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Muniellos
Central coordinates: Latitude: 43.0833, Longitude: -6.7333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 600 to 1685
Area of KBA (km2): 260.79417
Protected area coverage (%): 62.27
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: An area of the Cantabrian mountains covered by deciduous woodlands dominated by Quercus and Fagus forest. The IBA includes the Muniellos forest (3,000 ha), probably the best preserved Quercus robur forest in Spain. The main human activities are hunting, mining and nature conservation.
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: The IBA is important for its good populations of forest species.
Habitats
Land use: hunting | nature conservation and research (26%) | not utilised | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 25 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 5 | |
| Forest | 70 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There are a number of threats to the site including coal and gold mining, illegal hunting, acid rain from industrial pollution, forest fires and road building.