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GR120
Mount Taigetos
Location Greece, Peloponnissos
Central coordinates 22o 19.00' East  36o 58.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A3, B2, B3, C1, C2, C6
Area 70,000 ha
Altitude 150 - 2,407m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

Hellenic Ornithological Society



Ornithological information This is an important site for breeding raptors and species associated with open montane habitats. Breeding birds include seven of the 21 species in Europe that are restricted (when breeding) to the Mediterranean biome.

Site description A mountainous area with Pinus and Abies forests, treeline ecotone habitat and maquis.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Rock Partridge Alectoris graeca resident  1996  uncommon [units unknown]  -  A3  Near Threatened 
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni breeding  1996  3-10 breeding pairs  -  A1, C1  Least Concern 
Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciatus resident  1996  3-4 breeding pairs  -  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator breeding  1996  common [units unknown]  -  B2  Least Concern 
Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax resident  1997  200 breeding pairs  good  C2  Least Concern 
Yellow-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus resident  1996  uncommon [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis breeding  1996  uncommon [units unknown]  -  B2  Least Concern 
Rueppell's Warbler Sylvia rueppelli breeding  1996  uncommon [units unknown]  -  A3, B3  Least Concern 
Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala resident  1996  abundant [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans breeding  1996  common [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Western Rock-nuthatch Sitta neumayer resident  1996  common [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica breeding  1996  abundant [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Blue Rock-thrush Monticola solitarius resident  1996  common [units unknown]  -  B2  Least Concern 
Cretzschmar's Bunting Emberiza caesia breeding  1996  uncommon [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Doubitsa--Kentreas--Vribitsa/Exochoriou Game Refuge 1,000 protected area overlaps with site 1,000  
FARANGI NEDONA (PETALON - CHANI) - GR2550001 Habitats Directive 1,242 protected area overlaps with site 671  
Lada/Karveliou Game Refuge 1,300 protected area overlaps with site 1,300  
LAGKADA TRYPIS - GR2540005 Habitats Directive 1,589 protected area contained by site 1,589  
OROS TAYGETOS - GR2550006 Habitats Directive 53,367 protected area contained by site 53,367  
OROS TAYGETOS - LAGKADA TRYPIS - GR2550009 Birds Directive 48,786 protected area contained by site 48,786  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Native coniferous woodland; Treeline ecotone  55%
Shrubland Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis  30%
Rocky areas Inland cliffs; Scree & boulders  15%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Perennial crops, orchards and groves  5%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
forestry -
tourism/recreation -
water management -
other -

Management considerations The major threats are from forest fires and the subsequent erosion and overgrazing. Expansion of the road network and quarrying are additional threats. The introduction of Alectoris chukar is a potential threat to the Alectoris graeca population. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.

Protection status National Low International None1,000 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Doubitsa-Kentreas-Vribitsa/Exochoriou, 1,000 ha). 1,300 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Lada/Karveliou, 1,300 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Mount Taigetos. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 26/05/2013

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