Jelas Field (3597)
Croatia, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2010
National site name: Jelas polje
Central coordinates: Latitude: 45.1290, Longitude: 17.8320
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 80 to 120
Area of KBA (km2): 388.34073
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Jelas polje is extensive lowland area between Sava River and Dilj Mountain. It includes the largest carp fishpond complex in Croatia with well-developed emergent and floating vegetation as well as wet pastures and ponds along Sava River. These wetland habitats are ornithologically the most valuable part of the area. The prevailing habitat is intensively used arable land. The area also comprises alluvial oak forest, as Mrsunjski lug. The area is important for breeding and wintering of waterbirds and the most important stop-over site of Cranes. The main threats are possible loss of carp fishponds due to abandonment of fish production, river canalization, agricultural intensification, changes in traditional farming, intensified forest management and excessive or illegal hunting.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Delineation rationale: Area changed from 10000 ha to 41350 ha (Radovic, Kralj, Tutis, Radovic & Topic, 2005). Area changed from 41350 ha to 38875 ha, as part of 2010 revision of IBAs/proposed SPAs.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (30%) | fisheries/aquaculture (25%) | forestry (25%) | hunting (25%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 20 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 30 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 30 | |
| Forest | 20 |