Durankulak Lake (401)
Bulgaria, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, A1c, A1d, B1, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2005
National site name: Durankulashko ezero
Central coordinates: Latitude: 43.6647, Longitude: 28.5478
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 46
Area of KBA (km2): 33.5584
Protected area coverage (%): 99.99
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A natural firth on the Black Sea coast in north-western Bulgaria, near the Romanian border. The water is fringed with reedbeds of Phragmites, Typha and Schoenoplectus, and is surrounded by arable land and plantations of Populus, Fraxinus and Prunus. The water-level varies widely, due to demand for irrigation and household-consumption in summer. There are some groups of Salix trees around the lake, and scrub to the south-west is dominated by Paliurus, Crataegus and Rosa.
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: The site is of global importance for wintering Branta ruficollis, Anser albifrons and Phalacrocorax pygmeus, and also important for some other wintering or migrating waterbirds, e.g. Cygnus olor. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Anser erythropus (max. 5 on passage and in winter).
Delineation rationale: Type 1 marine IBA: suitable for the seaward extension approach. Type 2 marine IBA: non-breeding (coastal) congregations.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (74%) | hunting (75%) | nature conservation and research (22%) | water management (20%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 69 | |
| Grassland | 5 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 7 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 7 | |
| Shrubland | 4 | |
| Marine Neritic | 7 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main problem is illegal hunting, including international hunting tourism. The management plan for Durankulak lake was prepared by the Ministry of Environment under the Bulgarian-Swiss Biodiversity Conservation Programme.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Shifting agriculture | Only in the future |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Only in the future |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Only in the future |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (agricultural use) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Only in the future | |
| Energy production & mining | Oil & gas drilling | Only in the future | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Only in the future | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Only in the future | |
| Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | Only in the future |