Etangs de Vendres, Pissevache et Lespignan (2300)
France, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Etangs de Vendres, Pissevache et Lespignan
Central coordinates: Latitude: 43.2667, Longitude: 3.2000
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 8
Area of KBA (km2): 48.65932
Protected area coverage (%): 98.08
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A Mediterranean coastal site comprising a shallow brackish lagoon, saltmarshes, dunes and sand beaches, ponds, ditches, Pinus plantations and abandoned fields.
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 important for species breeding in reedbeds (Phragmites) and saltmarshes. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Crex crex (passage); Tetrax tetrax (breeding); Larus audouinii (5-10 passage individuals).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | hunting | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 43 | |
| Marine Neritic | 5 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 43 | |
| Forest | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Water pollution from agricultural and urban sources, significant tourist and hunting pressure and the abandonment of traditional grazing are reported threats.