Camargue (2327)
France, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B1, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Camargue
Central coordinates: Latitude: 43.5167, Longitude: 4.6000
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 2
Area of KBA (km2): 2113.713092
Protected area coverage (%): 92.33
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The largest wetland area in France, comprising a large delta with beaches, sand-dunes, islands, saltwater lagoons, marshes, and slow-flowing rivers; woodlands, grasslands and agricultural land.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: This is one of the most important sites for birds in France, regularly holding more than 20,000 waterbirds breeding, on passage and in winter. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet criteria: Falco naumanni (passage).
Delineation rationale: Includes a large seaward extension area (134094 ha) delineated on the basis of foraging area of breeding seabirds.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | hunting | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 5 | |
| Grassland | 5 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 40 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 40 | |
| Marine Neritic | 5 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area is threatened by the development of rice fields with associated modifications of water-levels, tourist development, the use of toxic chemicals in agriculture and air pollution from the chemical plants in Fos-sur-Mer.