Vallées de la Scarpe et de l'Escaut (2320)
France, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Vallées de la Scarpe et de l'Escaut
Central coordinates: Latitude: 50.4333, Longitude: 3.4333
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 15 to 35
Area of KBA (km2): 92.70487
Protected area coverage (%): 95.63
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site includes the Escaut and Scarpe Rivers and valleys where human activities include arable farming, cattle-farming, fishing, tourism, recreation and hunting.
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: This is an important site for wintering waterbirds.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | forestry | hunting | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 25 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 25 | |
| Grassland | 25 | |
| Forest | 25 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Many factors threaten the site including industrial development of the surrounding area, highway construction, Populus plantations and conversion of wet meadows into arable fields. Contaminated mud is also stored on the site (`Other' threats, above).