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GR032
Lakes Volvi-Langada (or Koronia-Ag. Vasiliou) and Rentina Gorge (or Makedonika Tempi)
Location Greece, Central Macedonia
Central coordinates 23o 22.00' East  40o 41.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, C6
Area 43,000 ha
Altitude 0 - 700m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

Hellenic Ornithological Society



Ornithological information This site is important for passage and wintering waterbirds. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aythya nyroca (minimum 43 wintering individuals), Oxyura leucocephala (wintering), Haliaeetus albicilla (wintering), Falco naumanni (passage). The site holds 20,000 or more waterbirds, on a regular basis (including Podiceps cristatus 6,729; Aythya ferina 8,029; Aythya fuligula 1,361; Fulica atra 12,736).

Site description The site comprises two freshwater lakes and a gorge. Lake Koronia is shallow, eutrophic and polluted. Lake Volvi is deeper and overflows through the Rentina gorge. The gorge is dominated by maquis and riverine scrub.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Common Pochard Aythya ferina winter  1997  8,029 individuals  good  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus winter  1997  6,729 individuals  good  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus non-breeding  1995  1,410 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C2  Least Concern 
White Stork Ciconia ciconia breeding  1993  80-100 breeding pairs  good  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Great Egret Casmerodius albus winter  1997  35 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus passage  1995  473 individuals  good  A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2  Vulnerable 
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus winter  1995  249 individuals  good  A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2  Vulnerable 
Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus winter  1997  43 individuals  good  A1, C1  Least Concern 
Levant Sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes breeding  1992  uncommon [units unknown]  -  B2  Least Concern 
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus passage  1995  600 individuals  medium  B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta passage  1995  1,150 individuals  medium  A4i, B1i, C2  Least Concern 
A4iii Species group - waterbirds winter  -  -  unknown  A4iii, C4   

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Lakes Volvi and Koronia Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 16,388 protected area overlaps with site 16,396  
LIMNES KORONEIAS - VOLVIS, STENA RENTINAS KAI EVRYTERI PERIOCHI - GR1220009 Birds Directive 161,631 protected area contains site 43,021  
LIMNES VOLVI KAI LAGKADA - EVRYTERI PERIOCHI - GR1220001 Habitats Directive 26,948 protected area overlaps with site 24,988  
Limni Koroneia Wildlife Refuge 4,891 protected area contained by site 4,891  
Limni Lagkada Wildlife Refuge 2,231 protected area contained by site 2,231  
Madytou, Apollonias, Limnis Volvis, Ekvoles Rycheiou Potamou Dimon Apollonias, Agiou Georgiou kai Rentinas Wildlife Refuge 11,627 protected area contained by site 11,627  
STENA RENTINAS - EVRYTERI PERIOCHI - GR1220003 Habitats Directive 2,905 protected area contained by site 2,905  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Shrubland Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis  20%
Wetlands (inland) Standing freshwater  27%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Arable land  47%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 55%
fisheries/aquaculture 27%

Management considerations Declining water-levels and water pollution, from agricultural and industrial sources, are a severe threat. A pollution incident in 1995 left thousands of waterbirds dead. In the gorge, fire is a serious problem and has previously caused severe damage. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.

Protection status National Partial International Partial2,100 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Limni Lagada, 2,100 ha). 500 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Paralimnio Dasos Apollonias, 500 ha). 669 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Richios Potamos, 669 ha). 16,388 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Lakes Volvi and Langada (Koronia), 16,388 ha). 15,671 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Limnes Volvi and Lagkada and Stena Rentinas, 15,671 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Lakes Volvi-Langada (or Koronia-Ag. Vasiliou) and Rentina Gorge (or Makedonika Tempi). Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife