Cagliari wetlands (2824)
Italy, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Stagni di Cagliari
Central coordinates: Latitude: 39.1833, Longitude: 9.1500
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 14
Area of KBA (km2): 96.05107
Protected area coverage (%): 74.23
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A complex of brackish coastal wetlands and saltpans around Cagliari in south Sardinia. It includes the following sites: Stagno di Cagliari, Saline di Quartu, Saline di Macchiareddu, Laguna di Santa Gilla, and Stagno di Molentargius. The main activities are salt-extraction and fishing.
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: An important site for a wide variety of wintering waterbirds (30,443 on January 1993; 42,216 on January 1994) and for breeding herons, Phoenicopterus ruber, gulls and terns. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aythya nyroca (max. 12, winter), Larus audouinii (non-breeding visitor).
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | nature conservation and research | urban/industrial/transport | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 1 | |
| Shrubland | 1 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 60 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 17 | |
| Marine Oceanic | 21 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are: water pollution by urban sewage and by industrial and harbour discharges; illegal hunting; building of illegal tourist resorts and associated infrastructure; drainage of wetlands. The site is a proposed Regional Nature Reserve.