Jerma (3129)
Serbia, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Jerma
Central coordinates: Latitude: 42.9383, Longitude: 22.6188
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 480 to 1704
Area of KBA (km2): 92.68102
Protected area coverage (%): 68.60
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The stunning gorge of Jerma river disparts the limestone massifs of the Greben Mt. and Vlaška Mt. It is situated in far southeastern part of country along Bulgarian border. Jerma represents unique complex of valleys and limestone gorges with vertical cliffs more than 700 m tall, with numerous caves, pits, sinkholes and pebble stones. The limestone massif called Asenovo Kale 1032 m high, dominates over entire area. The highest point of area is peak Ruj (1704 m) on Ruj Mt. In total six small villages are situated inside IBA which divided by three municipalities (Pirot, Babušnica and Dimitrovgrad).
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Delineation rationale: 2014-10-14 (BL Secretariat): following Puzović (2009), site area changed from 10000 ha to 9268 ha; coordinates changed from 42.95N 22.617E to 42°56'10'N 22°37'32'E.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (10%) | forestry (20%) | hunting (60%) | nature conservation and research (70%) | tourism/recreation (20%) | urban/industrial/transport (5%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 10 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 24 | |
| Forest | 19 | |
| Shrubland | 29 | |
| Grassland | 14 |