Portas de Ródão e Vale Mourão (19670)
Portugal, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Portas de Ródão e Vale Mourão
Central coordinates: Latitude: 39.7000, Longitude: -7.7333
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 150 to 618
Area of KBA (km2): 42.1525
Protected area coverage (%): 17.71
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Mountains with quartziferous scarps of great dimensions located between the towns of Castelo Branco and Portalegre. Mountains are crossed by River Tejo and River Ocreza with high steep valleys. Pine-woods non native and some mediterranean shrubland. It is also important the existence of a great amount of Junniperus.
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 site holds the greatest colony of Gyps fulvus in Portugal and other cliff-nesting species like ciconia nigra and Hieraatus fasciatus.Also it is possible to found Oenanthe leucura.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | forestry | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 25 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 25 | |
| Shrubland | 25 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 25 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Disturbances from intensified forest management and tourism activities are common. The use of illegal pouson and aircrafts in area Portas de Ródâo causes death of some Gyps fulvus. Burning of vegetation and intensified forestry has contributed to the degradation of habitat.Now (2001/2002) works in the railway network involved destruction of nests and high disturbances in the colony of gyps fulvus and also in Hieraaetus fasciatus and Bubo bubo.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation & service corridors | Utility & service lines | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Rosa et al.(1999,2001a,2001b)