Key Biodiversity Areas

Hautes garrigues du Montpellierais (2296)
France, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Hautes garrigues du Montpellierais
Central coordinates: Latitude: 43.8333, Longitude: 3.8000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 33 to 942
Area of KBA (km2): 907.05988
Protected area coverage (%): 59.02
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: An area of garrigue with vineyards, Pinus woodlands, rivers, cliffs and rocky slopes.
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 a migratory bottleneck, where 3,000 or more raptors regularly pass (including Pernis apivorus 2,000; Milvus migrans 1,000).

Habitats


Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | forestry | hunting | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport | water management
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Artificial - Terrestrial14
Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks)14
Grassland14
Shrubland14
Wetlands(Inland)14
Forest14
Caves & Subterranean Habitats (non-aquatic)14

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: High hunting pressure, recreation and urbanization are the main threats.