Val Grande (2710)
Italy, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Val Grande
Central coordinates: Latitude: 46.0500, Longitude: 8.4333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 196 to 2301
Area of KBA (km2): 118.64391
Protected area coverage (%): 99.12
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A mountainous Alpine area, on the west side of Lake Maggiore, including the following valleys: Val Grande, Val Pogallo, Val Cannobina and the south side of Val Vigezzo. The area is almost uninhabited, and comprises one of the largest wildernesses in the Alps. It is mainly covered by broadleaved woodlands (beech Fagus), with coniferous woodlands, alpine grasslands, streams and rocky areas also present. The only current land-use is nature conservation.
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)
Additional biodiversity: The area is rich in breeding species of forests and mountains, including raptors, gamebirds, owls and woodpeckers.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (2%) | nature conservation and research (80%) | not utilised (18%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 20 | |
| Forest | 55 | |
| Shrubland | 25 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There are no major threats. There was a LIFE-funded project (1994-1996) to prepare a management plan for the National Park.