Tarifa (1867)
Spain, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1c, B1, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Tarifa
Central coordinates: Latitude: 36.0833, Longitude: -5.5833
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 178
Area of KBA (km2): 80.40943
Protected area coverage (%): 61.13
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A coastal area around Tarifa bordering the Strait of Gibraltar. The site includes plains and low hills covered by Mediterranean scrub and grassland. The main human activities are arable cultivation, livestock-farming, tourism, and military use.
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 site is a major migratory bottleneck, where more than 20,000 storks and raptors regularly pass, including (figures are seasonal totals) Pernis apivorus (8,000-11,500 birds), Milvus migrans (45,000-60,000), Circaetus gallicus (4,000), Buteo buteo (3,000) and Hieraaetus pennatus (4,000).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (26%) | military | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 25 | |
| Shrubland | 26 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 25 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 25 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are from new roads, illegal hunting, tourism development and the erection of windmills.