Krka and Surrounding Plateau (3605)
Croatia, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2010
National site name: Krka i okolni plato
Central coordinates: Latitude: 43.9200, Longitude: 16.0030
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 1145
Area of KBA (km2): 877.24326
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The area consists of diverse river habitats – from fast upper flow of Krka river with steep banks and few gravelbars, river lakes (Visovac lake) to brackish river mouth (including Prokljansko jezero). Krka and Cikola gorges are characterized by numerous high and extensive cliffs, rocks and screes. Along some part of its flow Krka river is surrounded with wet and dry meadows and arable land. Wetland habitats are well developed in shallow bays of Visovacko jezeo and at river Gudaca mouth. On a plateau above river xeric grasslands are well developed and hold the most important population of Calandra Lark in Croatia. Same parts of the plateau are covered with sub Mediterranean forest. Changes in traditional farming, unregulated recreational activities and tourism, excessive or illegal hunting outside the National Park, excessive water extraction and infrastructure development (impact of power lines and wind-parks) represent the main threats to birds in the area.
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.
Delineation rationale: Area changed from 14200 ha to 108887 ha (Radovic, Kralj, Tutis, Radovic & Topic, 2005). Area changed from 108887 ha to 87761 ha, as part of 2010 revision of IBAs/proposed SPAs.
Habitats
Land use: tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 17 | |
| Grassland | 17 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 17 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 17 | |
| Marine Neritic | 17 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 17 |