Paul do Boquilobo (368)
Portugal, Europe

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2002

National site name: Paul do Boquilobo

Central coordinates: Latitude: 39.3667, Longitude: -8.5333

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 12 to 22

Area of KBA (km²): 4.32887

Protected area coverage (%): 98.34

KBA classification: Regional

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Freshwater marshes with alluvial forest and other water-fringe vegetation, located in the centre of the country, c.90 km north-east of Lisbon. The site is drained every year so that the outer areas can be cultivated but the core area is left flooded in most years. This IBA is located very close to the expanding town of Golegã.

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: One of the largest heronries in Iberia, also holding important numbers of breeding Platalea leucorodia, Milvus migrans and Chlidonias hybridus, and nationally important numbers of wintering duck.

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | nature conservation and research | water management

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Artificial - Terrestrial	25
Forest	25
Introduced Vegetation	25
Wetlands(Inland)	25

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The presence of the introduced and highly invasive water- hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes causes a certain degree of ecological disruption. The site is also subject to pressure from farmers who want to intensify farming practices and increase the extent of cultivation (e.g. by further drainage). Urban expansion (Golegã) also causes problems.

Additional information