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close| Location | Greece, Thessalia |
| Central coordinates | 21o 35.00' East 39o 45.00' North |
| IBA criteria | B2, B3, C2, C6 |
| Area | 65,000 ha |
| Altitude | 200 - 1,416m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information This is an important area for breeding raptors, forest species and species associated with open montane habitats. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aquila heliaca (non-breeding), Falco naumanni (passage).
Site description A mountainous site with broadleaved deciduous woodland, cliffs, and riverine forest in the valleys. Human activities include forestry, stock-raising, hunting, and recreation.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus | breeding | 1996 | 10 breeding pairs | - | B2, C6 | Endangered |
| Short-toed Snake-eagle Circaetus gallicus | breeding | 1994 | 7-10 breeding pairs | - | B2, C6 | Least Concern |
| Levant Sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes | breeding | 1994 | 14-30 breeding pairs | - | B2 | Least Concern |
| Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina | breeding | 1994 | 6-8 breeding pairs | - | B2, C6 | Least Concern |
| Little Owl Athene noctua | resident | 1994 | 100 breeding pairs | - | B2 | Least Concern |
| Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius | resident | 1994 | 50-100 breeding pairs | - | B3, C6 | Least Concern |
| White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos | resident | 1994 | 5-20 breeding pairs | - | C2 | Least Concern |
| Eurasian Green Woodpecker Picus viridis | resident | 1994 | 50-100 breeding pairs | - | B2 | Not Recognised |
| Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio | breeding | 1994 | 100-300 breeding pairs | - | B2, C6 | Least Concern |
| Cretzschmar's Bunting Emberiza caesia | breeding | 1994 | 20-100 breeding pairs | - | B3, C6 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANTICHASIA ORI - METEORA - GR1440003 | Habitats Directive | 60,625 | protected area contained by site | 60,625 | |
| ANTICHASIA ORI KAI METEORA - GR1440005 | Birds Directive | 72,047 | protected area contained by site | 54,490 | |
| Arkoudorema--Plastira/Spathadon | Game Refuge | 855 | protected area overlaps with site | 855 | |
| Gerakariou | Game Refuge | 2,000 | protected area overlaps with site | 2,000 | |
| Kanalaki/Kastrakiou--Vlachavas | Game Refuge | 700 | protected area overlaps with site | 700 | |
| KERKETIO OROS (KOZIAKAS) - GR1440002 | Habitats Directive | 50,431 | protected area overlaps with site | 3,202 | |
| KORYFES OROUS KOZIAKA - GR1440006 | Birds Directive | 19,726 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 | |
| Meteora | World Heritage Site | 272 | protected area contained by site | 375 |
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Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | Alluvial and very wet forest; Broadleaved deciduous woodland | 30% |
| Shrubland | Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis | 30% |
| Grassland | Steppes and dry calcareous grassland | 15% |
| Rocky areas | Inland cliffs | 5% |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Arable land | 25% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 80% |
| forestry | 30% |
| tourism/recreation | - |
Management considerations The main threats come from the extraction industry and recreational activities. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.
Protection status National Partial International Partial855 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Arkoudorema-Plastira/Spathadon, 855 ha). 2,000 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Gerakariou, 2,000 ha). 700 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Kanalaki/Kastrakiou-Vlachavas, 700 ha). Part of IBA covered by Controlled Hunting Area (Koziakas, 48,360 ha). 375 ha of IBA covered by World Heritage Site (Meteora Group of Monasteries, 375 ha). 55,220 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Potamos Pinios-Antichasia Ori, 55,220 ha).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Antikhassia mountains and Meteora. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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