Upper Valley of the Our (3582)
Luxembourg, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Vallée supérieure de l'Our et affluents de Lieler à Dasbourg
Central coordinates: Latitude: 50.1333, Longitude: 6.1167
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 272 to 515
Area of KBA (km2): 17.40553
Protected area coverage (%): 81.73
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: An area of deciduous and coniferous forest, adjacent to the Our stream on the Luxembourg-Germany border. The site was included within a larger IBA (formerly LU001) in the previous international IBA inventory (Grimmett and Jones 1989).
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: One of the most important areas in Luxembourg for breeding Ciconia nigra, Pernis apivorus, Milvus milvus and Bonasa bonasia, all listed on Annex I of the EC Birds Directive.
Delineation rationale: Delineation corresponds at 100% to the SPA 'Vallée supérieure de l'Our et affluents de Lieler à Dasbourg' (Gilles Biver, LNVL) -
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (5%) | forestry (79%) | hunting | nature conservation and research | rangeland/pastureland (15%) | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 15 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 1 | |
| Grassland | 16 | |
| Forest | 68 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: `Other' threat is water pollution from camping sites and villages, as sewage plants have not been constructed.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Small-holder plantations | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing |