Atsas-Agios Theodoros Area (31303)
Cyprus, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Atsas-Agios Theodoros Area
Central coordinates: Latitude: 35.0557, Longitude: 32.9547
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 160 to 890
Area of KBA (km2): 29.26511
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This new IBA is situated west of Nicosia and extends from the edge of the dry Mesaoria plain, where the site is dominated by cereal-growing to the pine-covered foothills of the Troodos range, rising from 300m to 800m in elevation. The site is notable principally for important numbers of breeding Woodlarks (Lullula arborea), but also hosts good breeding populations of Masked Shrike (Lanius nubicus) and Cretzschmar’s Bunting (Emberiza caesia) as well as of the two endemics, Cyprus Wheatear (Oenanthe cypriaca) and Cyprus Warbler (Sylvia melanothorax). In its lower reaches, the site is important for breeding Black Francolins (Francolinus francolinus).
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)
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 29 | |
| Forest | 67 | |
| Shrubland | 4 |
Additional information
References: Hellicar, M.A., Anastasi, V., Beton, D. & Snape, R. (2014). Important Bird Areas of Cyprus. BirdLife Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.