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ES022
Peña Labra and Cordel mountain ranges
Location Spain, Cantabria,Castilla y León
Central coordinates 4o 20.00' West  43o 0.00' North
IBA criteria B2, B3, C6
Area 110,000 ha
Altitude 600 - 2,175m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

SEO/BirdLife



Ornithological information This is an important site for breeding forest raptors.

Site description A mountainous site in the Cantabrian range with extensive areas of scrub and grassland, and some deciduous forest. Human activities include tourism and recreation, hunting and cattle-grazing.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Western Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus breeding  1991  5-6 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Grey Partridge Perdix perdix breeding  1996  100 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus breeding  1992  35 breeding pairs  medium  B3, C6  Least Concern 
Short-toed Snake-eagle Circaetus gallicus breeding  1992  20 breeding pairs  medium  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius resident  1992  45 breeding pairs  medium  B3, C6  Least Concern 
Black woodpecker Dryocopus martius resident  1992  14 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax resident  1992  100 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
FUENTES CARRIONAS Y FUENTE COBRE-MONTAÑA PALENTINA - ES4140011 Birds Directive 78,179 protected area overlaps with site 21,491  
Liebana - ES1300001 Habitats Directive 42,546 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Rio Camesa - ES1300014 Habitats Directive 246 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Rio Nansa - ES1300009 Habitats Directive 570 protected area overlaps with site 72  
Rio Saja - ES1300020 Habitats Directive 321 protected area overlaps with site 205  
Rio y Embalse del Ebro - ES1300013 Habitats Directive 7,685 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Saja National Game Reserve 180,186 protected area overlaps with site 70,000  
Saja - Besaya Nature Park 24,500 protected area contained by site 23,932  
Sierra de Hijar - ES0000250 Birds Directive 4,730 protected area contained by site 4,730  
Sierra de Peña Sagra - ES0000249 Birds Directive 5,020 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Sierra del Cordel y cabeceras del Nansa y del Saja - ES0000251 Birds Directive 16,244 protected area contained by site 16,244  
Valles altos del Nansa y Saja y Alto Campoo - ES1300021 Habitats Directive 51,099 protected area overlaps with site 42,904  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Alluvial and very wet forest; Broadleaved deciduous woodland  -
Shrubland Heathland; Scrub  26%
Grassland Alpine, subalpine and boreal grassland; Humid grasslands  26%
Wetlands (inland) Rivers and streams  -

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
hunting 26%
agriculture 26%
tourism/recreation 26%

Management considerations The main threat is from the development of tourism infrastructure, particularly for skiing.

Protection status National Partial International None70,000 ha of IBA covered by National Game Reserve (Saja, 180,186 ha). 23,932 ha of IBA covered by Natural Park (Saja-Besaya, 23,932 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Peña Labra and Cordel mountain ranges. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 26/05/2013

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