Upper Valley of the Sure (2934)
Luxembourg, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Vallée supérieure de la Sûre et affluents de la frontière belge à Esch-sur-Sûre
Central coordinates: Latitude: 49.8667, Longitude: 5.8500
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 325 to 511
Area of KBA (km2): 35.82826
Protected area coverage (%): 99.41
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The largest water reservoir in Luxembourg, with adjacent forests. The site was included within a larger IBA (formerly LU001) in the previous international IBA inventory (Grimmett and Jones 1989).
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: These forests are the most important area in Luxembourg for breeding Ciconia nigra, Pernis apivorus, Milvus milvus, Bonasa bonasia, Dryocopus martius and Dendrocopos medius, all listed on Annex I of the Birds Directive. The coppiced Quercus woodland, with an abundance of undergrowth, particularly favours Bonasa bonasia.
Delineation rationale: Delineation corresponds at 100% to the SPA 'Vallée supérieure de la Sûre et affluents de la frontière belge à Esch-sur-Sûre' (Gilles Biver, LNVL) -
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (5%) | forestry (71%) | hunting | nature conservation and research | rangeland/pastureland (9%) | water management (10%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 9 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 25 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 10 | |
| Forest | 51 | |
| Shrubland | 5 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |