Maiella, Pizzi and Frentani mountains (2786)
Italy, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Maiella, Monti Pizzi e Monti Frentani
Central coordinates: Latitude: 42.1667, Longitude: 14.2000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 40 to 2795
Area of KBA (km2): 1556.86542
Protected area coverage (%): 56.92
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A large, mountainous area in the central Apennines, including Maiella, Monti Pizzi, Bacino Aventino e medio Sangro, Monti Frentani, Alto Vastese and Lago di Serranella. The main habitats are broadleaved and mixed woodlands (dominated by beech Fagus and oak Quercus), very large boulders (especially in Maiella), gorges, scrub, grasslands, and cultivated areas, as well as rivers, streams and a small lake. The main land-uses are cultivation, nature conservation, cattle-rearing and tourism. Part of this area was listed as a separate IBA in the previous pan-European IBA inventory (Grimmett and Jones 1989), `Mountains and hills between Capracotta and Rosello' (former site IT081).
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 important for breeding raptors and some species of mountain or forest.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (30%) | forestry (15%) | hunting (10%) | nature conservation and research (50%) | tourism/recreation (40%) | urban/industrial/transport (5%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 17 | |
| Forest | 37 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 1 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 35 | |
| Shrubland | 10 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are posed by the development of touristic resorts, especially for winter sports in the Maiella area. No major threats are present in the Monti Pizzi e Monti Frentani areas. Some or all of the site is covered by a management plan. Projects of the Maiella National Park include: reintroduction of red deer Cervus elaphus, chamois Rupicapra rupicapra and roe deer Capreolus capreolus; studies on Alectoris graeca, Accipiter gentilis, Bubo bubo and Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax; conservation of wolf Canis lupus. Lago di Serranella and Abetina di Rosello are WWF reserves.