River Guadiana (373)
Portugal, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, A1d
Year of last assessment: 2019
National site name: Rio Guadiana
Central coordinates: Latitude: 37.7000, Longitude: -7.6500
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 170 to 310
Area of KBA (km2): 765.69202
Protected area coverage (%): 98.94
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This recently designated Natural Park includes a stretch of the lower Guadiana valley and the surrounding areas, close to the south-east border of Portugal. The valley is steep, with cliffs and sclerophyllous scrub. In the remaining areas there are mainly steppic habitats, non-intensive cereal fields and scrub.
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: An important area for breeding raptors, especially cliff-nesting species, but with good numbers of some birds of steppic habitats and of wetlands as well. Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Circaetus gallicus (1-5 pairs).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | forestry | hunting | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 50 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 4 | |
| Forest | 12 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 34 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Ongoing abandonment of agriculture will lead to an increase in the extent of scrub and a reduction in extent of steppic habitats, reducing densities of open-country bird species. There are plans to build a dam downriver, which will partially flood the area, and another large reservoir is planned upstream, which will affect water-flow through the site.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation & service corridors | Utility & service lines | Ongoing |