Tuscan Archipelago (2762)
Italy, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, A1d, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Arcipelago Toscano
Central coordinates: Latitude: 42.8000, Longitude: 10.3333
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 1000
Area of KBA (km2): 4639.2471
Protected area coverage (%): 99.40
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A complex of seven small islands between Tuscany and Corse (Montecristo, Giannutri, Gorgona, Capraia, Elba, Giglio e Pianosa). They are mainly covered by maquis, garrigue, sclerophyllous scrub, pine woodlands and have many rocky cliffs. Some have evergreen woodlands, grasslands and agricultural land. The main land-uses are tourism, fishing, boating and agriculture.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: The islands support five of the 21 species of the Mediterranean biome, as well as breeding Calonectris diomedea, Puffinus yelkouan and Larus audouinii, among other seabirds.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (15%) | fisheries/aquaculture (5%) | nature conservation and research (100%) | tourism/recreation (5%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 1 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 95 | |
| Shrubland | 3 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 1 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are: the disturbance of breeding seabirds by tourists, especially using motorboats; the development of tourist resorts and associated infrastructure; burning of vegetation. Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus (Critically Endangered) was recorded here until the 1980s.