Bieszczady Mountains (942)
Poland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2010
National site name: Bieszczady
Central coordinates: Latitude: 49.1667, Longitude: 22.5000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 500 to 1346
Area of KBA (km2): 1122.32894
Protected area coverage (%): 98.88
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site covers part of the Western Bieszczady range, the only part of the Eastern Carpathians lying within Poland. The lowest part of the site is mainly deforested, above which is subalpine forest (covering 84% of the site), dominated mainly by beech Fagus. Above that are extensive alpine meadows and Vaccinium heath, with alder Alnus shrubs.
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 161 species have been recorded. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aquila clanga (1-2 non-breeding birds).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (15%) | forestry (50%) | hunting | nature conservation and research (25%) | tourism/recreation (10%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 88 | |
| Grassland | 7 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 2 | |
| Other | 1 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 2 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are infrastructural and urban development along river valleys and within Landscape Parks (new hotels, pensions, etc.), drainage, loss of suitable habitat features for raptors and hole-nesters, and forest succession in open habitats. Almost the whole area is part of a transboundary Biosphere Reserve shared with Slovakia.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |