Key Biodiversity Areas

Parc National du Mercantour (2349)
France, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Parc National du Mercantour
Central coordinates: Latitude: 44.1667, Longitude: 7.0667
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 490 to 3143
Area of KBA (km2): 643.3412
Protected area coverage (%): 99.64
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: The site consists of cliffs, rocky slopes and scree, deciduous and conifer forests, alpine meadows, moorlands and garrigue.
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 waterbirds, particularly during migration.

Habitats


Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | forestry | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Shrubland8
Forest19
Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks)42
Wetlands(Inland)5
Grassland25

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are forestry, overgrazing, tourism and the planned construction of a tunnel.