Key Biodiversity Areas

Mouth of the river Guadalhorce (1872)
Spain, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1c
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Desembocadura del Río Guadalhorce - Laguna de Los Prados
Central coordinates: Latitude: 36.6167, Longitude: -4.4500
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 5
Area of KBA (km2): 2.28864
Protected area coverage (%): 36.09
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: An alluvial plain with artificial salt and freshwater lagoons, a sand beach, reedbeds (Phragmites) and Tamarix scrub. Inland the site is mainly covered by irrigated crops and riverine forest.
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 passage site for seabirds and other waterbirds.

Habitats


Land use: agriculture (55%)
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Marine Coastal/Supratidal24
Marine Intertidal5
Forest5
Grassland10
Shrubland5
Artificial - Terrestrial52

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Canalization of the river, alteration of the river course, disturbance from visitors and illegal hunting are all threats.