Saale-Elster valley (3410)
Germany, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Saale-Elster-Luppe-Aue südlich Halle (mit ehem. Tagebau Merseburg-Ost und Kiesgruben Wallendorf)
Central coordinates: Latitude: 51.3833, Longitude: 12.0167
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 80 to 83
Area of KBA (km2): 47.53208
Protected area coverage (%): 99.94
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The flood-plain of the Rivers Saale and Elster, including alluvial forest and wet meadows.
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: Two hundred and fifty-two species have been recorded. The site holds high densities of raptors. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aythya nyroca (resident and passage), Otis tarda (passage) and Acrocephalus paludicola (passage).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (63%) | forestry (11%) | hunting | nature conservation and research (26%) | not utilised (8%) | water management (5%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 11 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 10 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 37 | |
| Grassland | 43 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Improved protection is urgently needed.