South-east Styrian hill country (3242)
Austria, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Südoststeirisches Hügelland
Central coordinates: Latitude: 46.8000, Longitude: 15.9167
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 230 to 520
Area of KBA (km2): 108.64247
Protected area coverage (%): 78.51
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: An area of hills and river valleys. The hills are covered with broadleaved deciduous forest dominated by Fagus, Carpinus, and Quercus. The valley floors are dominated by arable agriculture with meadows on the steeper slopes and in wet depressions. Vineyards and orchards are also found on the slopes and areas of forest along the rivers.
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 area is important for populations of species characteristic of low- intensity mixed agriculture.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (60%) | forestry (40%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 40 | |
| Grassland | 10 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The major threat to the area is continued agricultural intensification, particularly the conversion of grassland and orchards to arable land.