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ES128
Posets-Maladeta
Location Spain, Aragón
Central coordinates 0o 30.00' East  42o 40.00' North
IBA criteria A3, B2, C6
Area 44,700 ha
Altitude 1,100 - 3,404m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

SEO/BirdLife



Ornithological information Breeding birds include four of the 10 species in Europe that are restricted to the Eurasian high-montane biome (when breeding).

Site description A high-altitude region of the Pyrenees with large areas over 3,000 m and numerous small mountain lakes and rocky areas. Lower down, there are Pinus, Abies and Fagus forests. The main human activities are forestry, livestock-farming and recreation.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Western Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus resident  1996  50 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta resident  1996  40 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Grey Partridge Perdix perdix resident  1996  70 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus resident  1996  2 breeding pairs  good  B2  Least Concern 
Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus resident  1996  7-10 breeding pairs  poor  C6  Least Concern 
Black woodpecker Dryocopus martius resident  1996  25 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax resident  1995  100 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Least Concern 
Yellow-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus resident  1995  abundant [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria resident  1996  common [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris resident  1996  common [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Alpine Citril Finch Carduelis citrinella resident  1996  abundant [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Aigüestortes - ES0000022 Birds Directive 56,033 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Benasque National Game Reserve 23,913 protected area contained by site 23,913  
CHISTAU - ES2410053 Habitats Directive 9,767 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
COTIELLA - SIERRA FERRERA - ES0000280 Birds Directive 25,474 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Era Artiga de Lin - Eth Portilhon - ES5130005 Birds Directive 6,872 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Posests - Maldeta Nature Park 29,488 protected area overlaps with site 25,200  
POSETS - MALADETA - ES0000149 Birds Directive 33,267 protected area overlaps with site 25,098  
RÍO ÉSERA - ES2410046 Habitats Directive 1,759 protected area overlaps with site 960  
RÍO ISÁBENA - ES2410049 Habitats Directive 1,993 protected area overlaps with site 450  
SIERRA DE CHÍA - CONGOSTO DE SEIRA - ES2410056 Habitats Directive 8,666 protected area overlaps with site 481  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Native coniferous woodland  20%
Grassland Alpine, subalpine and boreal grassland  35%
Rocky areas Inland cliffs; Scree & boulders  30%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Highly improved re-seeded landscapes  15%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
forestry -
hunting 80%
tourism/recreation 15%
agriculture 40%

Management considerations The main threats are from abandonment of traditional alpine grazing and disturbance from the large number of tourists visiting the site.

Protection status National Partial International Partial23,913 ha of IBA covered by National Game Reserve (Benasque, 23,913 ha). 25,200 ha of IBA covered by Natural Park (Posets-Maladeta, 33,267 ha). 25,200 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Parque Posets-Maladeta, 33,267 ha.

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Posets-Maladeta. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/06/2013

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