Lednicke rybniky ponds (Lednice fish-ponds) (42)
Czechia, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2002
National site name: Lednicke rybniky
Central coordinates: Latitude: 48.7667, Longitude: 16.7167
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 161 to 177
Area of KBA (km2): 6.85385
Protected area coverage (%): 98.23
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The complex of four large ponds built in the 14th century (Nesyt - 320 ha, Hlohovecký - 104 ha, Prostøední - 48 ha, Mlýnský - 107 ha) is situated in a wide lowland part of southern Moravia between the towns of Sedlec u Mikulova and Lednice. The ponds are filled with water from the Vèelínk stream. The isolated Zámecký rybník pond (30 ha) in Lednice is filled from the Dyje river. The ponds are shallow and eutrophic with extensive reedbeds (they cover up to 50 ha of the total area). The Zámecký rybník pond is situated in a park with many old trees. In the pond there are also 15 islets with stands of oaks and other trees. Each of the other ponds, except for Nesyt, includes two small islets. The ponds are a part of theLednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape, which was listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.
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: The IBA is important for both breeding and passage waterbirds. The Nesyt Pond reedbeds hold the largest breeding population of Panurus biarmicus in the Czech Republic (up to 100 pairs), and the islets of Zámecky rybník pond support the largest breeding colony nationally of Nycticorax nycticorax. The parkland adjacent to the ponds supports a variety of breeding woodpeckers and passerines.
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture (80%) | nature conservation and research (100%) | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 4 | |
| Shrubland | 1 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 7 | |
| Grassland | 5 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 83 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The intensity of fish-farming practices has been lowered in accordance with a management plan adopted in 1995. Nevertheless these practices have, in conjunction with agricultural activities, caused nutrient pollution of the ponds.