Key Biodiversity Areas

Grensmaas (3588)
Belgium, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Grensmaas
Central coordinates: Latitude: 51.1500, Longitude: 5.8333
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 6.01229
Protected area coverage (%): 99.07
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: A section of the River Meuse on the Netherlands border, encompassing a free flowing stream in a broad gravel bed with islands and gravel banks, and including nearby flooded gravel pits.
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: This is an important site for wintering Aythya ferina.

Habitats


Land use: urban/industrial/transport
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Wetlands(Inland)100

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area is threatened by the expansion of gravel mining, and silt and waste deposition. The area is a proposed Ramsar Site.