De Dijlevallei (720)
Belgium, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: De Dijlevallei
Central coordinates: Latitude: 50.7833, Longitude: 4.6000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 25 to 120
Area of KBA (km2): 12.48733
Protected area coverage (%): 90.58
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Flemish part of the Dijle river valley, located south of Leuven, with ponds, marshes, grasslands and woodlands.
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 area supports staging and wintering waterfowl and is a breeding and staging site for reedbed species.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 20 | |
| Grassland | 10 | |
| Forest | 50 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 10 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area is included in the `Ecologisch Impulsgebied', an integrated conservation and development project. Intensive research on the influence of hydrology upon land management is currently carried out. 549 ha of IBA covered by proposed Site of Community Importance (Valleien van de Dijle, Laan en IJsse with forests and swamps, 2,938 ha).