Côa valley (391)
Portugal, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Vale do Côa
Central coordinates: Latitude: 40.8833, Longitude: -7.0667
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 130 to 652
Area of KBA (km2): 206.23194
Protected area coverage (%): 96.24
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This site, located in the region of Beira Alta, includes a part of the Côa Valley, a steep valley with cliffs and rock formation of granites and schists.The vegetation is scrub of Genista with dispersed woodland of oak (Q. ilex) while in thermophile areas is present broom.Olive and almond plantations are the agriculture of this region. Also there is shepherding in the plain areas or soft slopes.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: The site holds important numbers of cliff-nesting bird species. The breeding population of Neophron percnopterus occurs in this area and it is one of the most important in Portugal.It is siginificative the number of Aquila chrysaetos, Hieraaetus fasciatus and too for Oenanthe leucura that occurs in arid areas of IBA.Also there are several passerines.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | hunting | tourism/recreation | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 9 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 30 | |
| Shrubland | 58 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 3 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There is not any plan management to nature conservation in this site, but the management plan for Archaeologic Park of Vale do Côa is in advance stage.There are plans to build several large dams in the IBA, which will flood part of the area.progressively feeding-habitats of cliff-nesting birds have been degraded.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation & service corridors | Utility & service lines | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: SNPRCN (1992)Araujo,Neves & Rufino(1994)Monteiro(1995)Berliner(1996,2001)Instituto do Ambiente e Desenvolvimiento(1999)