Key Biodiversity Areas

Trascău Mountains (452)
Romania, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Munţii Trascăului
Central coordinates: Latitude: 46.3785, Longitude: 23.4937
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 598 to 1381
Area of KBA (km2): 994.49917
Protected area coverage (%): 84.34
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: Two limestone gorges in the Trascãu mountains. The steep slopes are partially covered by herbs, bushes and Pinus trees. Quercus, Fagus and Carpinus dominated woodlands, grasslands and hay-meadows also occur. The surrounds are used for agriculture and cattle-grazing, with tourism in the gorges.
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: This is an important area for breeding raptors, forest species and birds associated with rocky habitats.

Habitats


Land use: agriculture (65%) | fisheries/aquaculture (25%) | forestry (20%) | hunting | nature conservation and research
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Forest31
Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks)14
Artificial - Terrestrial20
Grassland35

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threat is from increasing and currently uncontrolled tourism. Unregulated climbing threatens breeding species such as Aquila chrysaetos. Poaching of game species occurs.