Izki mountains (1672)
Spain, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Montes de Izki y de Vitoria
Central coordinates: Latitude: 42.6667, Longitude: -2.5000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 700 to 1057
Area of KBA (km2): 185.9182
Protected area coverage (%): 65.00
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Mountains with streams, bogs and a large Quercus pyrenaica woodland. Cattle are grazed in the woodland which contains many small patches of grassland. The main human activities are game hunting and forestry.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: This is an important area for woodland species. The site holds probably the best population of Dendrocopos medius in Spain.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (5%) | forestry (100%) | hunting (100%) | tourism/recreation (5%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 5 | |
| Shrubland | 26 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 4 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 | |
| Forest | 51 | |
| Grassland | 10 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are from intensive forest management, including the construction of new tracks which allow visitor access to the site.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Only in the future |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Shifting agriculture | Only in the future |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming | Only in the future |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Only in the future |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Only in the future |
| Pollution | Domestic & urban waste water | Sewage | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Herbicides and pesticides | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Only in the future | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Only in the future | |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Only in the future | |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Only in the future |