Serra de Monchique (19686)
Portugal, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, B1
Year of last assessment: 2019
National site name: Serra de Monchique
Central coordinates: Latitude: 37.3500, Longitude: -8.5667
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 50 to 902
Area of KBA (km2): 1036.98228
Protected area coverage (%): 73.01
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This site is rich in natural habitat, some of them are associated to very specific bioclimatic and geologic conditions. The central point of Serra de Monchique has woodland with a complicated structure and with a high richness of flora, These woodland hold relics and endemismes, and due to the biodiversity of this site, it was identified as 'hot-spot-forest' .The valleys of the mean rivers have populating and some agriculture practices of subsistence.
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: Important site for conservation of mediterranean diurnal and nocturnal raptors. Old site of breeding Aquila chrysaetos (last pair registered in 1999) and Aquila adalberti (last pair registered in 1980). It is the principal site of the second population of Hieraaetus fasciatus in Portugal, ocupating forestal habitat and breeding at trees. Also important for breeding Circaetus gallicus, located in the periphery of the areas that are ocupated for Hieraaetus fasciatus. Bubo bubo breeding at site. Also this site has a high value for migratory passerines and some soaring species.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | hunting | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 25 | |
| Shrubland | 25 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 25 | |
| Forest | 25 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The scarcity of preys and/or the degradation of habitat are the possible causes of the recent extinction of Aquila chrysaetos and Aquila adalberti, in Mountains of Algarve (due to the expansion of forestal activities and ocurrence of big fires)In this site the breeding places of big raptors are characterized by extensive areas of scrub with Quercus(especially, Q.suber).These enclaves are located in very sloping places with a dificult acessibility, reducing forestry capacity.It is possible with forestal and cynegetic management measures to promote activities for improve the habitat, increase the current populations or recolonize with the breeding species that disappear of this area
Additional information
References: Rufino (1989)Palma(1993,1994,1995)Pais (1996)Alvares & Petrucci-Fonseca(1997)Real et al.(1997)SIlva(1999)Inácio et al.(1999)Palma et al. (1999a,b,2001)Praxis (2001)