Isthmus of Jandía sandy plain (1978)
Spain, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Jable del Istmo de Jandía
Central coordinates: Latitude: 28.1500, Longitude: -14.2667
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 300
Area of KBA (km2): 45.06281
Protected area coverage (%): 93.94
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: An extensive sandy plain in the south of Fuerteventura that supports salt-tolerant and drought-resistant scrub vegetation. Human activities include goat-grazing.
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 steppic species and is a stopover site for migrating herons, raptors and passerines.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (26%) | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | 52 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 7 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 7 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 34 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The uncontrolled development of wind-farms, electric powerlines and new roads poses a major threat to both habitats and fauna. Some of this development is for tourism, with jeep-safaris an additional threat. Feral cats are also a problem. The area is a game refuge, and the local government has undertaken six censuses of Chlamydotis undulata since 1979.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Nomadic grazing | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Utility & service lines | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing |