Kretuonas Landscape Reserve (216)
Lithuania, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Kretuonas
Central coordinates: Latitude: 55.2500, Longitude: 26.4833
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 160 to 160
Area of KBA (km2): 11.8223
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A shallow nutrient-rich lake with six islands, surrounded by wet meadows, mires, reedbeds and woodland.
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 lake (and particularly the islands) are important for breeding waterbirds, notably Sterna albifrons and Chlidonias niger. Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aythya nyroca (possibly an irregular breeder), Crex crex (up to 3 calling males), Gallinago media (1 known pair).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (1%) | fisheries/aquaculture | nature conservation and research | rangeland/pastureland (19%) | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 19 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 1 | |
| Forest | 11 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 69 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Overgrowth by shrubs has reduced the extent of some open habitats and has thus reduced the numbers of some bird species, especially breeding waders. Bird observations are made every year.