Mondego Estuary (19672)
Portugal, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Estuário do Mondego
Central coordinates: Latitude: 40.1333, Longitude: -8.8333
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 16
Area of KBA (km2): 15.17951
Protected area coverage (%): 99.98
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This site is in the mouth of River Mondego. River Mondego is divided in two arms surrounding alluvion island( Ilha de Murraceira).The two arms are joined again about 1 Km of the mouth, in front of Figueira da Foz. South arm has intertidal areas, salt marshes and reedbeds. Ilha Murraceira and south area of south arm has salt marshes and aquaculture. The area between south arm and River Pranto holds salt marshes, reedbeds and rice-fields
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: During the winter and migrations the estuary has a great value for waterbirds, notably for Recurvirostra avosetta with more than 700 individuals.this site has two breeding couples of Circus aeruginosus, the number of this species rises during the winter.Very records of Pandion haliaetus confirm the importance of this site as wintering and passage migratory place.Also ardea purpurea is here during breeding season
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | hunting | tourism/recreation | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Excessive flux of nutrients from agriculture of Baixo Mondego Valley cause filling-in. There is a gradual transformation of actives salt marshes(salinas) in aquaculture or abandoned salt marshes what reduce the feeding and nesting habitat for waders.Hunting of waders and flamingos has been registered.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation & service corridors | Utility & service lines | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Múrias(1997)Múrias et al.(1997)Rosa et al. (2001c)Lopes et al.(2002)Catry (2002)