Western coast of El Hierro (2026)
Spain, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Costa occidental del Hierro
Central coordinates: Latitude: 27.7333, Longitude: -18.1500
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 200
Area of KBA (km2): 229.59752
Protected area coverage (%): 99.64
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: West-facing cliffs and rocky islets that form part of the El Hierro coastline.
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: A very important area for breeding seabirds and raptors. The Calonectris diomedea colony is among the most important on El Hierro.
Delineation rationale: 2015-04-23 (BL Secretariat): site area adjusted from 600 ha (IBA2000) to 20460 ha (Arcos et al. 2009).
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture (26%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 48 | |
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Marine Neritic | 48 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats include disturbance caused by tourists and illegal hunting. A track that traverses the IBA has recently been asphalted, making the area more easily accessible by tourists. The local government ran a conservation campaign for Calonectris diomedea from 1993-1996.