Balta Albă - Amara - Jirlău (449)
Romania, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1d
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Balta Albă - Amara - Jirlău
Central coordinates: Latitude: 45.2162, Longitude: 27.2678
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 15 to 79
Area of KBA (km2): 514.7396
Protected area coverage (%): 20.81
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site has three lakes associated with the River Buzãu. Balta Albã is a salt lake (max. depth 4 m) and does not freeze in winter. Amara is brackish and supports areas of reedbed (Phragmites). Jirlãu is fresh and has extensive reedbeds. The lakes are surrounded by agricultural fields and both wet and dry meadows. Reed is harvested at Jirlãu (`Other' land-use).
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: This is an important site for breeding and passage waterbirds, particularly grebes, ducks and herons. The site holds 20,000 or more passage waterbirds on a regular basis (including 8,000 Anas crecca, 5,000 Anas clypeata, and 8,000 Aythya ferina). Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Crex crex (breeding).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (10%) | fisheries/aquaculture (30%) | not utilised (60%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 5 | |
| Forest | 7 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 83 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are from angling, tourism and hunting. A management plan exists for the site.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (agricultural use) | Only in the future |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Persecution/control | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Ongoing |