Key Biodiversity Areas

La Dombes (2395)
France, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1d
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: La Dombes
Central coordinates: Latitude: 46.0333, Longitude: 5.0167
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 275 to 300
Area of KBA (km2): 803.82717
Protected area coverage (%): 52.73
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: The area includes ponds, marshes, wet meadows, deciduous forests, moorlands and arable fields.
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: The site holds 20,000 or more waterbirds on passage and in winter, on a regular basis (including Anas platyrhynchos 2,500 (passage), 10,820 (winter); Aythya ferina 6,000 (passage), 9,317 (winter); Fulica atra 6,640 (winter); Vanellus vanellus 8,000 (passage), 3,444 (winter)). Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aythya nyroca (passage, wintering); Haliaeetus albicilla (passage, wintering); Aquila clanga (wintering).

Habitats


Land use: agriculture (70%) | fisheries/aquaculture (35%) | forestry (20%) | hunting (90%) | urban/industrial/transport (5%)
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Grassland18
Artificial - Terrestrial15
Shrubland7
Forest15
Wetlands(Inland)11

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Early mowing and the removal of aquatic vegetation, by burning and cutting in summer, destroys the nests and chicks of rare species. High hunting pressure (including early opening dates) and lead pollution threaten ducks.