River Cecina middle valley (2761)
Italy, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Media Valle del Fiume Cecina
Central coordinates: Latitude: 43.3333, Longitude: 10.8667
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 50 to 450
Area of KBA (km2): 82.39913
Protected area coverage (%): 86.35
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site lies about 10 km south of the town of Volterra, in Tuscany, and comprises a large broadleaved evergreen woodland, called Berignone, and a stretch of the River Cecina. Habitats include rocky cliffs, rivers, streams, grasslands and cultivated areas. Main land-uses are forestry, agriculture and hunting.
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 site is also notable for its breeding raptors and woodland passerines.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (20%) | forestry (50%) | hunting (40%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 3 | |
| Other | 1 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 15 | |
| Forest | 70 | |
| Shrubland | 11 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are linked to agricultural intensification, abandonment of traditional pastures, and unsustainable exploitation of woodland resources (`Other' threat). The site is a proposed Regional Nature Reserve.