Central Marchfeld (3217)
Austria, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Zentrales Marchfeld
Central coordinates: Latitude: 48.2500, Longitude: 16.7167
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 145 to 165
Area of KBA (km2): 345.43302
Protected area coverage (%): 48.79
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Marchfeld is a plain to the north-east of Vienna, dominated by intensive arable agriculture with high levels of irrigation. Small remnants of woodland and dry, sandy grassland remain.
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)
Additional biodiversity: The site is one of five in Austria that hold Otis tarda.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (95%) | forestry (5%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 95 | |
| Forest | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Despite an ongoing protection programme, the Otis tarda population is still in decline and threatened by intensive agriculture.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Ongoing |