Ilhéu da Praia (19697)
Portugal, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Ilhéu da Praia
Central coordinates: Latitude: 39.0500, Longitude: -27.9500
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 57
Area of KBA (km2): 0.10838
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Ilhéu da Praia is a rocky islet with high seacliffs on its northern side and a gravel beach on its southern shore. In the top of the islet a plateau with short grasses covers most of the area.
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 breeding seabirds, especially for the Madeiran Storm Petrels, for which both 'cold' and 'hot' populations exist. Only record of breeding attempt of Red-billed Tropicbird and obly place where two Petrels of the genus Pterodroma were listened and captured.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | nature conservation and research | not utilised | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 25 | |
| Introduced Vegetation | 25 | |
| Forest | 25 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 25 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The islet of Ilhéu da Praia is very disturbed by local leisure activities. Capture of Cory's Shearwaters (chicks and adults) has been a common practice for fishermen. Introduced rabbits increased soil erosion and destroy many seabird nests, but after their erradication in 1997 the situation has ammeliorated. Active management of the Ilhéu da Praia is due to a LIFE project and knowledge about the seabirds is quite good. The absence of the establishment of the SPA by the regional law constitutes a weakness in its surveillance and legal protection. There is a management plan for the SPA Ilhéu da Praia.