Famara crag (1970)
Spain, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Riscos de Famara
Central coordinates: Latitude: 29.1833, Longitude: -13.5000
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 600
Area of KBA (km2): 13.91248
Protected area coverage (%): 96.28
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: High sea cliffs on Lanzarote with accumulations of landslide and erosion debris at the base of many sectors. The cliffs support drought-resistant vegetation. Human activities include fishing and tourism, and there is a designated military zone.
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: The site is important for breeding seabirds and raptors.
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | military | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | 33 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 33 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are posed by urbanization, electric powerlines, disturbance caused to birds such as Falco pelegrinoides by recreation and tourism, and illegal hunting. Introduced rats Rattus and feral cats Felis catus also pose problems for breeding birds. The area is a game refuge, and only rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus can be hunted. The local government ran several marine bird conservation campaigns between 1992 and 1996.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Persecution/control | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic native species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Domestic & urban waste water | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Industrial & military effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Utility & service lines | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing |