Ezousa Valley and Cliffs (31305)
Cyprus, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B2
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Ezousa Valley and Cliffs
Central coordinates: Latitude: 34.8322, Longitude: 32.5378
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 65 to 710
Area of KBA (km2): 74.98152
Protected area coverage (%): 87.17
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This new IBA site covers the valley of the Ezousa River plus surrounding areas and hosts a variety of vegetation communities and a rich bird community. The main qualifying species are European Roller (Coracias garrulus), Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) and Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), which all have important breeding populations in this remote area. Cyprus Wheatear (Oenanthe cypriaca) and Cyprus Warbler (Sylvia melanothorax) are also found in good numbers here, as are the qualifying game species Black Francolin (Francolinus francolinus) and Chukar (Alectoris chukar). This site is also an important feeding area for the Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) and hosts one breeding pair of Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata). The valley - the westernmost of the four ‘valley’ IBAs carved by rivers flowing from the Troodos massif to the south-west coast – is also important for raptor autumn passage.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 50 | |
| Grassland | 11 | |
| Shrubland | 39 |
Additional information
References: Hellicar, M.A., Anastasi, V., Beton, D. & Snape, R. (2014). Important Bird Areas of Cyprus. BirdLife Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.