Montesinho and Nogueira mountains (362)
Portugal, Europe

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a

Year of last assessment: 2019

National site name: Serras de Montesinho e Nogueira

Central coordinates: Latitude: 41.8500, Longitude: -6.8667

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 450 to 1500

Area of KBA (km²): 1080.57456

Protected area coverage (%): 98.30

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: A series of mountain ranges (Coroa, Montesinho and Nogueira), located in the north-east corner of Portugal, with a continental-type climate. There is a vast forest of deciduous oak Quercus pyrenaica, together with heathland and other shrublands.

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.

Additional biodiversity: The area holds a very diversified bird fauna, with over 126 breeding species.These mountains support important numbers of breeding raptors

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | forestry | hunting | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks)	17
Artificial - Terrestrial	17
Grassland	17
Shrubland	17
Forest	17
Wetlands(Inland)	17

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area is relatively unaffected by human activities, although the abandonment of agriculture is reducing landscape diversity, through regeneration of forest-cover and loss of the patchwork of open areas. Firewood-collection in the deciduous forests, allied to lack of management, is preventing the development of forest stands of high ecological quality.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Transportation & service corridors	Utility & service lines		Ongoing

Additional information