Bey Mountains (24057)
Turkey, Europe

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2016

National site name: Beydağları

Central coordinates: Latitude: 36.7833, Longitude: 30.1500

Elevation (m): 160 to 3070

Area of KBA (km²): 1910.01624

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Beydaglari is in the west of Antalya and northeast of Finike. The crest of the range stretches along the western shore of the Gulf of Antalya. With altitudes ranging between 600 and 3086 meters, the young Beydaglari zone generally consists of limestone and serpentine structure. The KBA is surrounded by Akçay and Alakir River valleys to the south and east, by the Elmalı Plateau to the west and Korkuteli Plateau to the north. The northeastern border includes the Bereket Mountain, which has been separated from the main mountain chain by a deep valley. Tekedorugu, Bakirlidag, Tahtalidag and Kizlarsivrisi summits are particularly remarkable. The highest peak in the mountains is Mt. Kizlarsivrisi (3086 m) (Eken et al. 2006).

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas) KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Mediterranean Hotspot (2017). Taxonomy, nomenclature and global threat category follow the 2016 IUCN Red List.

Additional biodiversity: The site is a key area for Mediterranean and Alpine biome restricted bird species, including Krüper's Nuthatch and Rüppel's Warbler. Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), the globally threatened Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) and Bearded Vulture (Gypaetos barbatus) are some other key bird species at the site. A new salmon species, Alakır Salmon (Salmo kottelati) has recently been discovered in the area endemic to the Alakir River basin. The valley constitutes also a possible range of the Brown Fish Owl (Ketupa zeylonensis) of the Taurus Mountains listed critically endangered at the European scale according to BirdLife International. KBA is one of the most important areas for threatened endemic plants in Anatolia. Great variety of restricted range and threatened plants grow in limestone and serpentine rocks of the river basin. Six plant species' world distributions are confined to Beydaglari, which are Asparagus lycicus, Aethionema lycium, Anchusa limbata, Cephalaria peshmenii, Hypericum huber-morathii, Seseli ramosissimum. Beydaglari is also important for mammals. Wild goat (Capra aegagrus), Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) and an Anatolian endemic, the Wooly dormouse (Dryomys laniger) are key mammal species at the site.

Habitats

Summary of habitats in KBA: The southern and eastern slopes with Mediterranean climate host rich maquis clusters and red pine, while black pine and cedar communities extend as the altitude rises above 1000 meters. The northern slopes with a terrestrial climate embrace mountainous and alpine grasslands. Alakır Valley is located in the western rim of the Beydaglari KBA and hosts outstanding diversity of freshwater and terrestrial biodiversity. Husbandry, forestry, agriculture and tourism are the main activities at the site. Saklıkent ski centre is in this area and it has small accommodation facilities and restaurants. The KBA offers peculiar morphological characteristics for geologists and geographers (Eken et al. 2006).

Land use: agriculture | forestry | rangeland/pastureland | tourism/recreation

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Shrubland	20
Forest	50
Wetlands(Inland)	1
Grassland	25
Artificial - Terrestrial	5

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Six hydropower projects in the Alakir Valley are the key threat to the site, posing major pressure on several of trigger species. Mining, quarrying, tourism and urbanization are other threats at the KBA. For instance, in the Saklıkent region, Saklıkent Building Society initiated construction of 480 villas.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Natural system modifications	Dams & water management/use	Abstraction of surface water (domestic use)	Ongoing
Energy production & mining	Mining & quarrying		Ongoing
Residential & commercial development	Tourism & recreation areas		Ongoing

Additional information