Picos de Europa mountain range (1658)
Spain, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1c
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Picos de Europa
Central coordinates: Latitude: 43.1667, Longitude: -4.8333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 350 to 2617
Area of KBA (km2): 1365.71759
Protected area coverage (%): 75.82
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A rugged limestone karst landscape, with expanses of rocks, cliffs, two deep gorges and two small mountain lakes. Grasslands predominate, but in the lower areas there are extensive deciduous woods. Human activities include tourism, livestock-farming and game hunting.
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 four of the 10 species in Europe that are restricted to the Eurasian high-montane biome (when breeding).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (45%) | forestry (5%) | hunting (20%) | nature conservation and research (50%) | tourism/recreation (10%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 20 | |
| Grassland | 10 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 25 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 10 | |
| Forest | 30 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: A funicular railway is being built in the core area of the National Park and other infrastructure is being developed for tourism. Grassland burning, illegal hunting and the unsustainable exploitation of game species are also threats.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Small-holder plantations | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic native species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Domestic & urban waste water | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Excess energy | Noise pollution | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Nutrient loads | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Only in the future | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Only in the past and unlikely to return | |
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Utility & service lines | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Only in the future | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Temperature extremes | Ongoing |