North-eastern Leithagebirge (3207)
Austria, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Nordöstliches Leithagebirge
Central coordinates: Latitude: 47.9667, Longitude: 16.7000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 128 to 410
Area of KBA (km2): 84.94812
Protected area coverage (%): 98.34
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A range of low slate and limestone hills between Purbach and Bruckneudorf. The area is mostly Quercus-Carpinus forest with vineyards, arable land and mesophile grassland around the forest edge. Part of the site is a military training area consisting of mesophile grassland and forest. Human activities include forestry and hunting.
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: The site is important for forest birds and species found in mixed agricultural landscapes.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (5%) | forestry (70%) | military (25%) | not utilised (5%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 10 | |
| Forest | 80 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 10 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats come from the intensification of forestry, particularly the building of access roads, and the expansion of settlements into grasslands with associated refuse-dumping.