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close| Location | Greece, Central Macedonia |
| Central coordinates | 22o 38.00' East 40o 47.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2 |
| Area | 12,400 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 70m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information The site is an important corridor for migratory species. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aquila clanga (1-3 wintering individuals).
Site description This site contains the River Axios together with patches and islands of riverine forest and pasture.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus | winter | 1997 | 5,000 individuals | good | A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DELTA AXIOU - LOUDIA - ALIAKMONA - ALYKI KITROUS - GR1220010 | Birds Directive | 29,647 | protected area overlaps with site | 11,396 | |
| DELTA AXIOU - LOUDIA - ALIAKMONA - EVRYTERI PERIOCHI - AXIOUPOLI - GR1220002 | Habitats Directive | 33,676 | protected area overlaps with site | 5,347 | |
| Eidomeni (Altsakiou) | Wildlife Refuge | 440 | protected area contained by site | 440 |
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| Palmitsi-Kampos (Evzonon & Mikrou Dasous) | Wildlife Refuge | 1,437 | protected area overlaps with site | 1,218 |
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Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | Alluvial and very wet forest | 10% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Rivers and streams | 70% |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Arable land | 20% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 20% |
| water management | 30% |
Management considerations A major threat, particularly to waterbirds, is the extraction of sand from the river-bed, sandbanks and forested areas. Chemical industries deposit solid toxic waste along the river. Urban and agricultural pollution are also problems. The river is dammed and water is extracted for irrigation.
Protection status National Partial International None1,310 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Reserve (Palmitsi-Kampas/Evzonan-M. Dasous, 1,310 ha). 800 ha of IBA covered by (Altsaki/Idomenis, 800 ha).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: River Axios. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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