Gorce mountains (940)
Poland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2010
National site name: Gorce
Central coordinates: Latitude: 49.5167, Longitude: 20.1667
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 600 to 1288
Area of KBA (km2): 226.90745
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A tract of the Gorce mountains (part of the Western Beskidy range), comprising the upper part of the Kamienica river catchment and parts of other catchments. The peaks of Jaworzyna (1,288 m), Kud³oñ (1,276 m) and Mostownica (1,251 m) lie within the National Park, which is covered mainly by semi-natural subalpine forest, dominated by spruce Picea, oak Quercus and fir Abies. Mountain pasture occurs at higher elevations.
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 total of 80 species have been recorded breeding.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (2%) | forestry (5%) | nature conservation and research (51%) | not utilised (5%) | tourism/recreation (45%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 97 | |
| Grassland | 3 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Some mountain pastures (privately owned) are reverting to forest following the cessation of grazing. Birds are disturbed by the high number of tourists and local people collecting wild foodstuffs. Some privately owned forests along the border of the National Park are being clear-felled. Tree-death from acid rain (air pollution originating from industry upwind) is also a problem. An overhead cable-car to the highest peak (Turbacz) is proposed, which would further increase the number of tourists and the amount of infrastructural development in the region.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Persecution/control | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Excess energy | Noise pollution | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Air-borne pollutants | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic native species/diseases | Unspecified species | Only in the future |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Only in the future | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Only in the future | |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |