Paul de Arzila (365)
Portugal, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Paul de Arzila
Central coordinates: Latitude: 40.1667, Longitude: -8.5500
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 9 to 15
Area of KBA (km2): 4.81971
Protected area coverage (%): 95.87
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A small freshwater marsh with an extensive reedbed, located in central-west Portugal, very close to the town of Coimbra. The marsh is bordered by pine woodland, and is situated in a relatively densely populated region. An important part of a network of small wetlands in the Mondego valley, which includes two other IBAs: Paul do Taipal (009) and Paul de Madriz (011).
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: The area supports important breeding numbers of two herons (Ixobricus minutus e Ardea purpurea)and a raptor (Milvus migrans), as well as large numbers of migratory passerines during autumn migration.
Habitats
Land use: forestry | nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 50 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There are plans to build a new road on the edge of the site but there is not any managament plan for nature conservation in the special protection area or Ramsar site. Nevertheless about 18 % of lands included in IBA are property of state, with ICN(Institute Nature Conservation) as intermediate.Agricultural, industrial and chemical pollution, drainage, cutting of vegetation, afforestation and illegal hunting are some threats that occur in this IBA.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation & service corridors | Utility & service lines | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Costa & Guedes (1996)Farinha et al.(2001)Tenreiro (2002a)