El Valle, Altaona and Escalona mountains (1910)
Spain, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Monte El Valle y Sierras de Altaona y Escalona
Central coordinates: Latitude: 38.0000, Longitude: -0.9167
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 200 to 647
Area of KBA (km2): 277.56814
Protected area coverage (%): 90.69
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site includes both mountains and plains south-east of the city of Murcia. The vegetation is mainly Pinus forest, scrub and steppe habitats.
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 area for dispersing juvenile raptors and also for steppic species. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aegypius monachus (passage), Aquila clanga (passage) and Falco naumanni (14 wintering individuals).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | hunting (26%) | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 7 | |
| Forest | 7 | |
| Grassland | 7 | |
| Shrubland | 26 | |
| Desert | 26 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 26 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are from plans for irrigation schemes, urbanization, the use of poison (`Other' threats, above) and powerlines.