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ES019
Riaño
Location Spain, Castilla y León
Central coordinates 5o 0.00' West  43o 5.00' North
IBA criteria B2, B3, C2, C6
Area 70,000 ha
Altitude 960 - 2,190m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

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Ornithological information This is an important site for species associated with forests.

Site description A mountainous area in the Cordillera Cantábrica with steep slopes covered by scrub and grasslands, deciduous woodland and limestone cliffs at higher altitudes. The summer pastures are grazed by sheep and cattle. Other activities include game hunting and forestry.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Western Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus resident  1981  153 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Grey Partridge Perdix perdix resident  1993  50-100 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus breeding  1996  15 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius resident  1993  10-15 breeding pairs  medium  B3, C6  Least Concern 
Black woodpecker Dryocopus martius resident  1993  15 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax resident  1993  160 breeding pairs  medium  B2, C2  Least Concern 
Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush Monticola saxatilis breeding  1993  40 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Liébana - ES0000198 Birds Directive 29,071 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Liebana - ES1300001 Habitats Directive 42,546 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Mampodre National Game Reserve 30,858 protected area overlaps with site 23,000  
Picos de Europa Regional Park 120,760 protected area contains site 70,000  
PICOS DE EUROPA - ES0000003 Birds Directive 23,783 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
PICOS DE EUROPA EN CASTILLA Y LEÓN - ES4130003 Birds Directive 101,337 protected area contains site 70,000  
Ponga- Amieva - ES0000316 Birds Directive 28,102 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Ponga-Amieva - ES1200009 Birds Directive 28,100 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Redes - ES1200008 Birds Directive 37,803 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Riaño National Game Reserve 73,214 protected area overlaps with site 47,000  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Alluvial and very wet forest; Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Mixed woodland; Native coniferous woodland; Treeline ecotone  30%
Shrubland Heathland; Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis; Scrub  40%
Grassland Alpine, subalpine and boreal grassland; Humid grasslands  30%
Wetlands (inland) Raised bogs  -
Rocky areas Inland cliffs  -
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Forestry plantations  -

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
forestry 30%
hunting 90%
nature conservation and research 10%
water management 10%
agriculture 80%

Management considerations The main threats include hydroelectric schemes, the development of the ski infrastructure, deforestation to create new pastures, overgrazing and the pressure from tourism.

Protection status National High International None70,000 ha of IBA covered by Regional Park (Spain) (Picos de Europa, 120,760 ha). 23,000 ha of IBA covered by National Game Reserve (Mampodre, 29,238 ha). 47,000 ha of IBA covered by National Game Reserve (Riaño, 71,214 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Riaño. 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