Vijverkomplex van Midden Limburg (716)
Belgium, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Vijverkomplex van Midden Limburg
Central coordinates: Latitude: 50.9667, Longitude: 5.3000
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 30 to 60
Area of KBA (km2): 25.63143
Protected area coverage (%): 97.40
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: An important wetland area including many ponds and marshes and wet woodlands, and covering parts of the Echelbeek, Slangbeek, Roosterbeek and Laambeek.
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: The IBA is also a breeding and staging site for reedbed species, including Botaurus stellaris.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (20%) | fisheries/aquaculture (25%) | forestry (20%) | tourism/recreation (20%) | urban/industrial/transport (15%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 20 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 40 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 25 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The site is severely impacted by the construction of buildings, camping activities, the filling-in of wetlands and the destruction of trees, reedbeds and all other vegetation bordering the fish-ponds. The area is included in the `Ecologisch Impulsgebied', an integrated conservation and development project. 800 ha of IBA covered by proposed Site of Community Importance (Valleien van de Laarbeek, Zonderikbeek, Slangbeek, 2,811 ha).