El Escorial-San Martín de Valdeiglesias (1690)
Spain, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: El Escorial - San Martín de Valdeiglesias
Central coordinates: Latitude: 40.5000, Longitude: -4.1667
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 650 to 1754
Area of KBA (km2): 2088.11072
Protected area coverage (%): 72.19
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site includes the Sistema Central between Puerto de Guadarrama and Gredos. Vegetation includes dehesa woodland, grassland and scrub, small areas of Quercus and Pinus woodland and arable cultivation.
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: This is an important area for breeding and passage raptors and storks.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (26%) | forestry (26%) | hunting (26%) | tourism/recreation (26%) | urban/industrial/transport | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 12 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 12 | |
| Forest | 26 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 12 | |
| Shrubland | 26 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 12 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The site is close to Madrid and is therefore highly threatened by urban and infrastructure developments and tourism. Open-cast mining is a particular threat to Aquila adalberti.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Domestic & urban waste water | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Excess energy | Noise pollution | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Excess energy | Light pollution | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Ongoing |