Lake Kerkini (996)
Greece, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1c, A1d, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Limni Kerkini
Central coordinates: Latitude: 41.2000, Longitude: 23.1500
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 32 to 50
Area of KBA (km2): 152.76598
Protected area coverage (%): 97.07
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Kerkini is a freshwater reservoir with reedbeds (Phragmites), some wet forest, and arable land.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: A very important area for breeding, passage and wintering waterbirds and raptors and breeding and migratory passerines. The site is valuable as a foraging area for raptors nesting elsewhere. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Haliaeetus albicilla (non-breeding, 2-4 wintering individuals), Aquila heliaca (1-3 wintering individuals), Falco naumanni (passage), Gallinago media (wintering).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (5%) | fisheries/aquaculture (80%) | forestry (10%) | tourism/recreation | water management (80%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 80 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 | |
| Forest | 15 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The major threat is alteration of the dyke system to raise water-levels. Illegal land-reclamation, road construction, rubbish tipping (`Other' threats) and fishing are also threats. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.