Kalimok Complex (404)
Bulgaria, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1d, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2005
National site name: Complex Kalimok
Central coordinates: Latitude: 44.0253, Longitude: 26.4283
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 14 to 33
Area of KBA (km2): 94.30852
Protected area coverage (%): 99.83
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A former fish-farm, situated on the bank of the River Danube, north of the village of Nova Cherna. The open water of the ponds is partly covered by rich marsh vegetation of Hydrocharis, Nymphaea, Nymphoides and Trapa. The ponds are fringed by dense reedbeds of Phragmites, Typha and Schoenoplectus, with some groups of Salix trees, and are separated from the river by a seasonally flooded forest of Salix and Populus, which also covers a nearby island in the Danube (part of this complex). Plantations of Robinia and Elaeagnus cover the surrounding hills. Fish-farming ceased in 1993 because of financial problems. `Other' land-use (below) is reed-cutting.
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 important during the breeding season for nesting, feeding and resting waterbirds, e.g. the globally threatened Pelecanus crispus, Branta ruficollis and Aythya nyroca, and is also an important staging and roosting area for migrating waterbirds, e.g. Phalacrocorax pygmeus, Ciconia ciconia and Plegadis falcinellus. Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Phalacrocorax pygmeus (5 pairs before 1989, now only 1 pair left). Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Nycticorax nycticorax (30-50 pairs).
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 29 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 64 | |
| Forest | 7 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Problems include reductions in water-levels, and disturbance of birds by reed-cutters and collectors of herbs and snails. The procedure for designation of 663 ha of the site as a protected area is not finished.