Minho and Coura estuaries (360)
Portugal, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Estuários do Minho e Coura
Central coordinates: Latitude: 41.9167, Longitude: -8.7833
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 50
Area of KBA (km2): 33.92443
Protected area coverage (%): 82.88
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site borders Spain. In this estuary meets the Coura river. In the confluence of the two rivers there is a large area of reedbeds (Phragmites australis) and alluvial forest. Minho's estuary area presents an accentuated water salinity gradient, and includes saltmarshes, sand and mudflats and some islands with agricultural and cuttle breeding uses. Closer to Valença is also included the 'veiga de São Pedro da Torre': a marsh humid area with a well-preserved alluvial forest.
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: Minho and Coura estuary is one of the two only North Region sites with these characteristics, beeing one of the few where Western Marsh-harrier (Circus aeruginosus), Little Bittern (Ixobrichus minutus) and Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) are found. Reedbeds and alluvial fores are also important for passerines migratory passage. Locustella luscinioides breeds in this area.During wintering season, the area holds important numbers of migratory seabirds e.g. Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) and Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | forestry | hunting | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 14 | |
| Forest | 14 | |
| Shrubland | 14 | |
| Marine Neritic | 14 | |
| Grassland | 14 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 14 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 14 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Excessive dredging is changing the sediment distribution in the estuary and thus possibly reducing the feeding densities of wintering waders and ducks. Over-fishing is certainly affecting piscivorous birds at the estuary. The construction of a large dam upstream from the site will reduce the fine sediment input to the site, which will reduce the extent of the marginal vegetation and the productivity of intertidal areas.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation & service corridors | Utility & service lines | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Farinha & Trindade (1994)Costa & Guedes (1996)