Mechelse Heide en de Vallei van de Ziepbeek (719)
Belgium, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Mechelse Heide en de Vallei van de Ziepbeek
Central coordinates: Latitude: 50.9500, Longitude: 5.6333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 50 to 100
Area of KBA (km2): 23.44157
Protected area coverage (%): 98.87
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site includes the Ziepobeek and the Asbeek valleys, which hold very important areas of wet and dry heath and fen, coniferous and deciduous woodland, and a small bog.
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: A breeding area for heathland and woodland species.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (20%) | forestry (40%) | nature conservation and research (40%) | tourism/recreation (5%) | urban/industrial/transport (10%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 57 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 | |
| Shrubland | 19 | |
| Forest | 19 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: 2,106 ha of IBA covered by proposed Site of Community Importance (Melchelse heide en vallei van de Ziepbeek, 2,371 ha).