Palmas Gulf wetlands (2846)
Italy, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Stagni del Golfo di Palmas
Central coordinates: Latitude: 39.0833, Longitude: 8.9333
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 4
Area of KBA (km2): 78.71141
Protected area coverage (%): 30.49
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A complex of coastal pools, lagoons and saltpans in the south-west corner of Sardinia. The site includes Stagno di Santa Caterina, Stagno di Porto Botte, Stagno Baiocco, Saline di Sant'Antioco, Stagno di Mulargia, and Laguna di Sant'Antioco. The main activities are fishing and salt extraction.
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: An important wintering and breeding site for waders. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Tetrax tetrax (resident).
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture (62%) | hunting | urban/industrial/transport (42%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 7 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 13 | |
| Other | 1 | |
| Forest | 2 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 15 | |
| Marine Neritic | 1 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 1 | |
| Marine Oceanic | 60 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threat is from the building of intensive aquaculture plants, and of a thermal spa and other tourist resorts and associated infrastructure. One of the wetlands, Stagno di Is Prunis, is polluted by industrial discharges.