Arraiolos (19681)
Portugal, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Arraiolos
Central coordinates: Latitude: 38.7833, Longitude: -8.0000
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 163 to 353
Area of KBA (km2): 129.81227
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This area is domined for evergreen woodlands of oak (quercus) and holds a wide diversity of biotopes. The relief is soft and increases from west to east. The greatest elevated point is located in Serra da Laranjeira. It is important River Divor that cross all the area.The site includes 'Herdade da Mata and Herdade das Lages'.There is an intense influence of forestry activities.
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: Important for a number of breeding diurnal raptors (milvus migrans, buteo buteo, circus pygargus and hieraaetus pennatus) breeding nocturnal raptors (tyto alba, strix aluco and otus scops) and breeding herons (capped heron, white heron) and platalea leucorodia. Also there are an interesting variety of passerines associated to River Divor.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | hunting
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Introduced Vegetation | 25 | |
| Forest | 25 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 25 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 25 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Currently,the habitats are maintained by traditional agriculture, but the weakness of the rural economy migh lead farmers to change land-uses.Hunting is a threat with a high disturbance and there is a autarchic interest to make a protected area in the region.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation & service corridors | Utility & service lines | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Costa & Guedes(1994)Cruz et al. (1992,1993,1998)Cruz (1999)Onofre et al.(1999)Onofre (in press)