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close| Location | Spain, Cataluña |
| Central coordinates | 0o 40.00' East 41o 30.00' North |
| IBA criteria | B2, C2, C6 |
| Area | 18,000 ha |
| Altitude | 100 - 352m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information This is an important area for steppic species, particularly Chersophilus duponti.
Site description A steppe area in Cataluña comprising undulating plains with non-irrigated cereal cultivation, interspersed with garrigue-like low scrub and almond trees.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purple Heron Ardea purpurea | resident | 1996 | 35-40 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus | resident | 1996 | 4 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax | resident | 1995 | 115-185 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Near Threatened |
| Eurasian Thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus | resident | 1995 | 275-335 breeding pairs | good | B2, C6 | Least Concern |
| Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles alchata | resident | 1995 | 80-110 breeding pairs | good | B2, C2, C6 | Least Concern |
| European Roller Coracias garrulus | resident | 1995 | 45 breeding pairs | good | B2, C6 | Near Threatened |
| European Bee-eater Merops apiaster | resident | 1996 | 200 breeding pairs | poor | B2 | Least Concern |
| Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor | breeding | 1995 | 10-15 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra | resident | 1995 | 4,500-6,300 breeding pairs | good | B2 | Least Concern |
| Dupont's Lark Chersophilus duponti | resident | 1995 | 44-53 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Near Threatened |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mas de Melons | Partial Nature Reserve | 1,140 | protected area contained by site | 1,140 |
|
| Secans de Mas de Melons-Alfés - ES0000021 | Birds Directive | 6,423 | protected area overlaps with site | 5,332 | |
| Secans del Segrià i Utxesa - ES5130038 | Habitats Directive | 3,793 | protected area overlaps with site | 1,264 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis | 26% |
| Grassland | Steppes and dry calcareous grassland | 26% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Rivers and streams | - |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Arable land; Perennial crops, orchards and groves | 26% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 26% |
| hunting | - |
| military | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
| water management | - |
Management considerations The area is seriously threatened by irrigation schemes to permit agricultural intensification. A private airport, that holds a population of Chersophilus duponti, has plans to expand. There is a zonal plan approved by the European Commission but not implemented by the Catalonian regional government.
Protection status National Low International Low1,140 ha of IBA covered by Natural Reserve (Mas de Melons, 1,140 ha). 1,140 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Mas de Melons, 1,140 ha).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Cogul-Alfés steppes. 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
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