IJzervallei-De Blankaart (699)
Belgium, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: IJzervallei-De Blankaart
Central coordinates: Latitude: 51.0000, Longitude: 2.8333
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 3 to 7
Area of KBA (km2): 51.35818
Protected area coverage (%): 97.49
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A large area of flat and annually (in winter) inundated hay-meadows and grasslands along the IJzer and Handzame rivers. The site includes the Blankaart, a shallow freshwater lake with extensive reedbeds and Salix marshes.
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 internationally important area for migrating and wintering waders and waterfowl, especially wintering Anas penelope. The site is also nationally important for breeding meadow birds.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (90%) | hunting (50%) | nature conservation and research (10%) | tourism/recreation (10%) | water management (5%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 | |
| Forest | 5 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 10 | |
| Grassland | 81 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area is included in the `Ecologisch Impulsgebied', an integrated conservation and development project. Small zones are managed as nature reserves by BNVR/RNOB and the Flemish Region. A management plan exists for the Blankaart area and several smaller zones. 170 ha (4%) is designated as a green area on the physical planning map of Flanders. Wintering waterbirds have been monitored for the past 15 years and breeding birds intensively for the last five.