Paramali River and Plateau (31310)
Cyprus, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Paramali River and Plateau
Central coordinates: Latitude: 34.7315, Longitude: 32.8168
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 115 to 670
Area of KBA (km2): 23.51238
Protected area coverage (%): 99.74
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This new Limassol area IBA, with its rugged topography, goat-grazed scrubby vegetation and mattoral on the plateaus between the ravines, is a key migration site, part of the across-Cyprus autumn flyway that has the Akrotiri peninsula as its destination. Red-footed Falcons (Falco vespertinus), Common Cranes (Grus grus) and Demoiselle Cranes (Grus virgo) all occur in significant numbers on migration, especially in the autumn months. But the site is also important for breeding birds, the European Roller (Coracias garrulus), and the two endemics, Cyprus Wheatear (Oenanthe cypriaca) and Cyprus Warbler (Sylvia melanothorax). Both Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata) and Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) nest here.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 68 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 32 |
Additional information
References: Hellicar, M.A., Anastasi, V., Beton, D. & Snape, R. (2014). Important Bird Areas of Cyprus. BirdLife Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.