El Médano coast (2032)
Spain, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: El Médano
Central coordinates: Latitude: 28.0333, Longitude: -16.5500
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 171
Area of KBA (km2): 12.86724
Protected area coverage (%): 26.36
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site encompasses a coastal area in the south of Tenerife that includes rock stacks, sand beaches and some coastal lagoons. Inland lie sandy, rocky plains with deep gullies and cliffs. One site supports dune-adapted vegetation, the only area of such habitat on the island.
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 plains are important for steppic species and the gullies support breeding raptors. The site is also important for wintering waders, especially Calidris alba, and is the last remaining breeding site of Charadrius alexandrinus in the Santa Cruz de Tenerife province.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture (26%) | military | tourism/recreation (26%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 17 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 17 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 17 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 17 | |
| Grassland | 17 | |
| Desert | 17 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats include high-impact recreational activities involving off-road vehicles, urbanization and waste disposal, bird collisions with vehicles, the effects on birds of feral cats Felis catus and dogs, illegal hunting and nest destruction, the gathering of shellfish, and intensive goat-grazing. Other threats (above) are posed by military manoeuvres and pollution. Several ecological studies and censuses have been carried out and a management plan is almost complete. A habitat regeneration programme for this area has been proposed.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Nomadic grazing | Ongoing |
| 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 |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Excess energy | Noise pollution | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Excess energy | Light pollution | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Utility & service lines | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Flight paths | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Ongoing |