Berlenga and Farilhões islands (369)
Portugal, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Berlenga e Farilhões
Central coordinates: Latitude: 39.4500, Longitude: -9.5167
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 94
Area of KBA (km2): 1.00084
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A small archipelago of rocky islets, the only sizeable such group off the Portuguese mainland, located c.8 km off the west coast. The largest of the islets covers only 2.5 km2Tourists and anglers visit the area in spring and summer.
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: This is the only known breeding colony of Oceanodroma castro near the European mainland. The site holds 10,000 or more pairs of seabirds on a regular basis. The number of breeding Larus cachinnans has increased dramatically in recent years and this colony is now controlled by culling. Berlenga marks the southern limit in Europe for breeding Uria aalge, with 45 individuals (declined from 6,000 pairs in 1939), and the northern limit for breeding Calonectris diomedea. Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Falco peregrinus (2 pairs).
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | military | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Introduced Vegetation | 25 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 25 | |
| Marine Neritic | 25 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 25 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Tourists and anglers cause a certain amount of disturbance to breeding birds. The introduction of the non-native and highly invasive creeper Carpobrotus has affected the natural vegetation cover.
Additional information
References: Lecoq (2002)