Key Biodiversity Areas

Pyasachnik Reservoir (422)
Bulgaria, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2005
National site name: Yazovir Pyasachnik
Central coordinates: Latitude: 42.4245, Longitude: 24.5578
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 253 to 380
Area of KBA (km2): 31.78983
Protected area coverage (%): 99.76
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: A freshwater reservoir in south-eastern Bulgaria, surrounded by low hills with forests of Quercus and forestry plantations of Pinus. Land-uses include hunting, fishing and irrigation.
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: Anser albifrons winters in important numbers, and the site holds 20,000 or more waterbirds on a regular basis. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Phalacrocorax pygmeus (max. 21 in winter), Anser erythropus (max. 3 on passage), Branta ruficollis (max. 12 in winter), Aythya nyroca (max. 10 on passage).

Habitats


Land use: agriculture (2%) | fisheries/aquaculture (73%) | hunting (60%) | water management (73%)
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Forest15
Wetlands(Inland)73
Grassland10
Artificial - Terrestrial2

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Illegal and uncontrolled hunting of waterbirds poses a serious threat.