Medas islands (1809)
Spain, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Illes Medes
Central coordinates: Latitude: 42.0333, Longitude: 3.2167
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 75
Area of KBA (km2): 0.2294
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A small, scrub-covered island and six more islets 1 km off Cape Estartit, on the Costa Brava. The islands are uninhabited. The main activity is tourism.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: This is an important site for breeding seabirds and for a heron colony. The site has one of the largest Larus cachinnans colonies in the Mediterranean
Habitats
Land use: tourism/recreation (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 90 | |
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Marine Neritic | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threat to the islands is from increasing tourism. The surroundings of the island are protected as a Marine Reserve (418 ha).
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic native species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |