Serras do Alvão e Marão (19665)
Portugal, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Serras do Alvão e Marão
Central coordinates: Latitude: 41.3500, Longitude: -7.8167
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 50 to 1416
Area of KBA (km2): 587.82518
Protected area coverage (%): 97.79
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Mountains with NE-SW orientation and maximum altitudes of 1330 meters (Alvão) and 1416 m. (Marão). The site is longitudinally bounded by the valleys of the rivers Tâmega (at West) and Corgo (at East). The site reaches its lower altitude at river Corgo's mouth. This site holds a large diversity of geomorphologic situations and natural habitats, namely atlantic humid meridional heaths and mountanious grass-lands. Groves, oak forests of Quercus robur and Q. pyrenaica, water fringe forests of Salix alba and Populus alba and cork oak forests are also found.
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: Alvão and Marão mountains re important due to the presence of an isolated breeding pair of Aquila chrysaetos. The site also holds a resident colony of Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax that during winter increases its number with feeding individuals. These mountains have ornithological importance for holding interesting raptors and transaharian migratory passerines. There are 146 bird species refered for this area.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | forestry | hunting | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 14 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 14 | |
| Shrubland | 14 | |
| Grassland | 14 | |
| Introduced Vegetation | 14 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 14 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 14 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There is not any management plan for the Nature Park or Rede Natura 2000 sites, however there is a proposal of planning for Alvão Nature Park. As a response to progressive abandonment of humvan activities in the area, the climax sequence is recuperated in some places, with vegetal cover recuperation. Alhough the agricultural abandonment and the resulting decrease of natural and landscape values, the site is still well-preserved. Unsustainable exploitation is worrying (turism and recreation, monocultural forestry, road system...). Some important formations like turf bogs, silver birch forest, laurel groves and some grasslands and natural heaths, should be protected. The lack of forest management do not allow the progress of forests with higher ecologic value. Conservation steps for oak forests and other important patches should be carried out.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation & service corridors | Utility & service lines | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Paes de Faria(1988,1995,1998,2001a,2001b)Travassos& Paes de Faria(1995,1999)Àlvares et al.(1998), Travassos(1998),Palma et al.(1999)Travassos et al. (2001)Rosa et al. (2001)