Gallocanta lake (1802)
Spain, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1d, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Gallocanta
Central coordinates: Latitude: 40.9333, Longitude: -1.5000
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1000 to 1057
Area of KBA (km2): 286.34272
Protected area coverage (%): 57.58
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A large brackish lake with marsh vegetation in some places and many islets. The surrounding area is dominated by cereal fields.
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: The most important passage site for Grus grus in Europe, it is a major migratory bottleneck, where more than 20,000 cranes regularly pass in spring and autumn. It is also a very important site for wintering wildfowl and for breeding steppic birds.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (26%) | hunting | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 15 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 15 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 70 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are from over-abstraction of water for agriculture and increasing disturbance from visitors, particularly of Grus grus.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Only in the future |
| Pollution | Domestic & urban waste water | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Herbicides and pesticides | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Persecution/control | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Ongoing |