Mures river lower flood-plain (454)
Romania, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Lunca Mureşului Inferior
Central coordinates: Latitude: 46.1228, Longitude: 20.8695
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 77 to 119
Area of KBA (km2): 391.70312
Protected area coverage (%): 56.95
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A mixture of meadows and almost unbroken woodland situated along the Mure° river between Arad and the Hungarian border. In wetter areas Salix and Populus dominate with Quercus, Ulmus and Fraxinus on drier sites. Only 14% of the remaining woods are natural, most having been replaced by plantations. The woods are interspersed with clearings, pastures and permanent small marshes and lakes. Flooding occurs each spring.
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, passage and wintering waterbirds and raptors. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aythya nyroca (10 breeding pairs), Haliaeetus albicilla (3-4 wintering birds) and Crex crex (breeding).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (30%) | forestry (52%) | not utilised (18%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 7 | |
| Forest | 52 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 30 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are from deforestation, dyke construction and hunting. The area has been proposed as a transboundary reserve.