Island of Lobos (1989)
Spain, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Isla de Lobos
Central coordinates: Latitude: 28.7500, Longitude: -13.8167
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 127
Area of KBA (km2): 4.55527
Protected area coverage (%): 99.07
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Island situated off the north coast of Fuerteventura, with lava fields and some sandy areas. Human activities include fishing and tourism.
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: The site is very important for seabirds, and also for raptors and some steppic species. The coastline provides feeding opportunities for migrating herons (Ardeidae), waders and gulls (Laridae).
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture (26%) | tourism/recreation (26%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 16 | |
| Shrubland | 16 | |
| Marine Neritic | 26 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 16 | |
| Desert | 26 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats include feral cats Felis catus preying upon breeding seabirds, disturbance to birds and habitat degradation caused by the c.100 people that visit the island every day, and poaching of Calonectris diomedea. The area is a game reserve. In 1992 the local government undertook a cat cull, and a census of Chlamydotis undulata followed in 1995.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Shipping lanes | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Only in the past and unlikely to return |