Gran Paradiso (2711)
Italy, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Gran Paradiso
Central coordinates: Latitude: 45.5500, Longitude: 7.2667
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 450 to 4061
Area of KBA (km2): 1173.29533
Protected area coverage (%): 82.72
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A mountain area in the western Alps of Italy, between the rivers Dora Baltea and Orco. The site includes the area of Monte Emilius. A wide range of montane habitats are present, relatively intact and little disturbed by man˜from deciduous forests to glaciers. The main land-use is nature conservation. The most managed habitats are the forests.
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 one of the best areas in the Alps for birds of the Eurasian high-montane biome; five species occur in good numbers, out of the 10 possible species. Also important for Aquila chrysaetos. Gypaetus barbatus is present, having been reintroduced at the nearby protected areas of Vanoise National Park (France; where it bred for the first time in 1997), Mercantour Natural Park (France) and Argentera Natural Park (Italy).
Habitats
Land use: forestry (10%) | hunting (20%) | nature conservation and research (80%) | tourism/recreation (30%) | water management (1%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 16 | |
| Forest | 21 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 26 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 3 | |
| Shrubland | 34 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: In some areas, forests are periodically cleared and cut, while new forestry roads are continually being made. Research focuses mainly on ibex Capra ibex (numbering about 4,000, the most important population in the world) and chamois Rupicapra rupicapra; the only studied bird species is Aquila chrysaetos.