Babia-Somiedo (1653)
Spain, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1c
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Babia - Somiedo
Central coordinates: Latitude: 43.1667, Longitude: -6.0000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 800 to 2417
Area of KBA (km2): 1713.39418
Protected area coverage (%): 90.95
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A large mountainous area in the Cordillera Cantábrica. The site is characterized by deciduous woodland, scrub, grassland and narrow valleys with many small villages and some cultivation. The area is used for cattle-grazing, hunting, forestry and tourism and some mining.
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: Breeding birds include five of the 10 species in Europe that are restricted to the Eurasian high-montane biome (when breeding).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (60%) | forestry | hunting (90%) | not utilised (30%) | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport | water management (6%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 40 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 | |
| Shrubland | 20 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 20 | |
| Forest | 15 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The most important threats are over-exploitation of game, mining and increased infrastructural development for tourism.