Durme en Middenloop van de Schelde (703)
Belgium, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Durme en Middenloop van de Schelde
Central coordinates: Latitude: 51.0500, Longitude: 4.1000
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 10
Area of KBA (km2): 41.90257
Protected area coverage (%): 91.88
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The area includes long sections of the Schelde and Durme rivers, with very rare freshwater tidal river marshes as well as mudflats, marshes, reedbeds, oxbows and wet meadows.
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 site for wintering and migrating waterfowl. The area is also nationally important for migrating Botaurus stellaris, Ixobrychus minutus and Porzana porzana, and breeding Alcedo atthis.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (20%) | nature conservation and research (80%) | tourism/recreation (15%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 21 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 21 | |
| Marine Neritic | 21 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 11 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 20 | |
| Forest | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area is included within a project which is preparing an ecological model of the River Schelde estuary, and thus receives detailed study. About 1,560 ha is designated as a green area on the physical planning map. The whole estuarine area is currently subject to designation as a State Nature Reserve, which will highly improve its conservation. 3,800 ha of IBA covered by proposed Site of Community Importance (Schelde-en Durme-estuarium van NL grens tot Gent, 4,139 ha).