Suha Reka (439)
Bulgaria, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2005
National site name: Suha reka
Central coordinates: Latitude: 43.8620, Longitude: 27.5845
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 28 to 253
Area of KBA (km2): 257.68949
Protected area coverage (%): 98.91
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A section of the arid valley between the village of Karapelit and the Romanian border. There are many high, rocky massifs among the large river-meanders between the village of Balik and the village of Brestnitza, but elsewhere massifs are not very high. Forests are dominated by Quercus, Carpinus and Fraxinus. There is a reservoir, nearly 7 km long, whose open water is partly covered by Lemna and Ceratophyllum.
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 area is one of the most important breeding sites in the country for Tadorna ferruginea, Buteo rufinus and Aquila pomarina. Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Neophron percnopterus (1 pair), Circaetus gallicus (1 pair), Hieraaetus pennatus (1 pair), Bubo bubo (1-3 pairs).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (40%) | fisheries/aquaculture (1%) | forestry (50%) | hunting (50%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 9 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 1 | |
| Grassland | 20 | |
| Forest | 50 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 20 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main problems are the disturbance of nesting birds (by treasure-hunters), and water pollution by waste-water from farms. The exact sources of the pollution are unknown because of the well-drained karst terrain.