Key Biodiversity Areas

Vico lake (2775)
Italy, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Lago di Vico
Central coordinates: Latitude: 42.3333, Longitude: 12.1667
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 510 to 965
Area of KBA (km2): 21.08646
Protected area coverage (%): 88.78
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: A freshwater lake in central Italy, in a volcanic crater about 10 km south-east of the town of Viterbo. The borders of the lake are fringed with Phragmites and Juncus. The surrounding area is mainly broadleaved forest (dominated by oak Quercus, beech Fagus, hornbeam Carpinus, chestnut Castanea, maple Acer) and agricultural land. Main land-use is agriculture.
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 lake is notable for wintering duck, the surroundings for breeding owls, woodpeckers and passerines.

Habitats


Land use: agriculture (25%) | fisheries/aquaculture (5%) | forestry (20%) | military (5%) | nature conservation and research (70%) | tourism/recreation (20%) | urban/industrial/transport (5%)
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Forest37
Artificial - Terrestrial5
Wetlands(Inland)58

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Agricultural intensification is the major threat to the site.