Key Biodiversity Areas

Stelvio National Park (2732)
Italy, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio
Central coordinates: Latitude: 46.5000, Longitude: 10.5333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 639 to 3905
Area of KBA (km2): 1532.38513
Protected area coverage (%): 85.17
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: A large area of the central-southern Alps, with all the typical mountain habitats, and where coniferous woodlands, alpine grasslands and rocky areas predominate. The main land-use is nature conservation (National Park). The main human activities are tourism, nature conservation, forestry and cattle-rearing.
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: The area is important for gamebirds, raptors and five out of the 10 species of the Eurasian high-montane biome.

Habitats


Land use: agriculture (20%) | forestry (20%) | nature conservation and research (100%) | tourism/recreation (50%) | water management (5%)
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Shrubland30
Wetlands(Inland)1
Artificial - Terrestrial6
Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks)25
Forest26
Other12

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The most important threats are posed by the abandonment of mountain pastures, the building of tourist resorts, intensified forest management, and the poor management of the National Park, due to the lack of funds and a management plan, and its division into three parts managed by three different public bodies (`Other' threat).