Ilhas Desertas (19668)
Portugal, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B1, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Ilhas Desertas
Central coordinates: Latitude: 32.4833, Longitude: -16.5000
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 442
Area of KBA (km2): 13.82482
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Three barren and cliffy volcanic islands, time ago joined, now separated by two little straits. From north to south: Ilhéu Chão, Deserta Grande and Bugio. The Ilhéu Chão is plain in the top and holds a diverse vegetation. Great part of Deserta Grande suffered desertification, but a valley in north area, formerly cultivated, holds now maritime Macaronesic vegetation. The Bugio is an elongated basaltic island with slopes and unstables cliffs. It's constituted by two main areas (north and south) each one with a little grass-covered plateau.
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: It's a extremely important place for five seabird species (Procellariidaea) who breed in Madeira. It's the only European breeding area of Pterodroma feae (Macaronesian endemic species) who breeds mainly at the south plateau of Bugio. Here we can also find important colonies of Bulweria bulwerii, Calonectris diomedea and Oceanodroma castro. Another seabird, Puffinus assimilis, breeds here in significant numbers. In all three islands also breed Sterna hirundo and Larus cachinnans, and some other Macaronesian endemic birds like Apus unicolor, Anthus berthelotii and Serinus canaria.
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | forestry | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 50 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: In the ilhéu chão there was a hare population wich is extinct for 20 years with the consequent recuperation of vegetation. With a LIFE project support, rabbits and goats populations in Deserta Grande are being eradicated since 1996. The flora recuperation becomes the island attractive to breeding seabirds. In the past, procellariform species were predated by fishermen, but now, the Nature Park of Madeira controls and watches the area. The Bugio still holds big rabbits populations that could harm species who breed on the ground like Pterodroma feae. The main IBA's threats in the future are tourism and fishery.
Additional information
References: Bannerman & Bannerman )1963), JOuanin (1969), Zino & zino (1986), Barbosa (1992), Oliveira et al. (1993), Nunes (1994), Zino & Biscoito (1994), Zino et al. (1994, 1996), Câmara (1997), Hagemeijer &Blair (1997), Voigh & Leitner (1998), Oliveira (1999), Nounes 2000a,b), Zino et al. (2001), Fagundes (2002), Geraldes (2002)