Lake Viverone (2886)
Italy, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Lago di Viverone
Central coordinates: Latitude: 45.3833, Longitude: 8.0500
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 220 to 235
Area of KBA (km2): 9.58258
Protected area coverage (%): 95.20
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A freshwater lake of glacial origin on the western Padana plain, 15 km south of the town of Biella. The site includes large reedbeds and a wet woodland (Alnus). Tourism is the main human activity.
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 site for migrating and wintering waterbirds (up to 15,000 in winter) and for breeding reedbed passerines. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aythya nyroca (max. 5 on passage).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (5%) | fisheries/aquaculture (20%) | nature conservation and research (5%) | tourism/recreation (70%) | urban/industrial/transport (5%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 80 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 10 | |
| Forest | 10 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are agricultural intensification in the surrounding land, disturbance of birds by motor boats, and the regular (and apparently deliberate) burning of reedbeds.