Key Biodiversity Areas

Cortados del Jarama (1694)
Spain, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Cortados y Graveras del Jarama
Central coordinates: Latitude: 40.1667, Longitude: -3.5167
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 560 to 695
Area of KBA (km2): 264.68146
Protected area coverage (%): 92.80
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: The site includes sections of the Rivers Jarama and Manzanares to the south-east of Madrid. Patches of riverine forest remain and the site includes a number of small lakes, the result of gravel extraction. The main human activities are arable cultivation and livestock-farming.
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 site for species associated with riverine habitats and also for migrant passerines. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Tetrax tetrax (resident).

Habitats


Land use: agriculture (26%) | hunting (26%) | military | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport (26%) | water management
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Grassland7
Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks)26
Wetlands(Inland)26
Forest7
Shrubland7
Artificial - Terrestrial26

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are from urban and transport developments, sand and gravel extraction from the rivers, river canalization, refuse dumping in the lakes, the erection of powerlines and uncontrolled hunting. A management plan exists for the Regional Park of Sureste but has not been applied.