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ES158
Rivers Cabriel and Júcar canyons
Location Spain, Castilla-La Mancha,País Valenciano
Central coordinates 1o 8.00' West  39o 20.00' North
IBA criteria B2, C2, C6
Area 163,000 ha
Altitude 200 - 1,108m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

SEO/BirdLife



Ornithological information This is an important site for cliff-nesting raptors and species characteristic of Mediterranean woodland and scrub.

Site description A mountainous area crossed by the valleys of the Rivers Cabriel and Júcar, with Pinus forest and scrub.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus resident  1997  20 breeding pairs  poor  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Short-toed Snake-eagle Circaetus gallicus breeding  1997  20 breeding pairs  poor  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos resident  1997  12 breeding pairs  poor  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciatus resident  1997  11 breeding pairs  medium  B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Eagle-owl Bubo bubo resident  1997  25 breeding pairs  poor  B2, C6  Least Concern 
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster breeding  1997  300 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Least Concern 
Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax resident  1997  100 breeding pairs  poor  B2  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Hoces del Cabriel - ES0000472 Birds Directive 31,850 protected area overlaps with site 21,489  
Hoces del Cabriel - ES5233010 Birds Directive 13,224 protected area contained by site 13,224  
Hoces del Cabriel en Cuenca Natural Reserve 1,662 protected area contained by site 1,662  
HOCES DEL CABRIEL, GUADAZAÓN Y OJOS DE MOYA - ES4230013 Habitats Directive 63,296 protected area overlaps with site 16,728  
HOCES DEL CABRIEL, GUADAZAON Y OJOS DE MOYA - ES0000159 Birds Directive 64,745 protected area overlaps with site 16,733  
HOCES DEL RIO JUCAR - ES0000387 Birds Directive 17,698 protected area overlaps with site 9,972  
HOCES DEL RIO JUCAR - ES4210001 Habitats Directive 17,447 protected area overlaps with site 9,811  
Muela de Cortes National Game Reserve 36,009 protected area overlaps with site 30,000  
Muela de Cortes y el Caroche - ES5233040 Habitats Directive 61,519 protected area overlaps with site 27,814  
Riu Xúquer - ES5232007 Habitats Directive 371 protected area overlaps with site 41  
Sierra de Malacara - ES5233044 Habitats Directive 15,066 protected area overlaps with site 3,409  
Sierra de Martés-Muela de Cortes - ES0000212 Birds Directive 141,402 protected area overlaps with site 72,548  
Sierras de Martés y el Ave - ES5233011 Habitats Directive 35,242 protected area overlaps with site 21,475  
Valle de Ayora y Sierra del Boquerón - ES5233012 Habitats Directive 16,825 protected area contained by site 16,825  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Broadleaved evergreen woodland; Native coniferous woodland  70%
Shrubland Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis  30%
Grassland Steppes and dry calcareous grassland  20%
Rocky areas Inland cliffs  5%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Perennial crops, orchards and groves  25%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 25%
forestry 50%
hunting 80%

Management considerations The main threats are from intensive forest management and fires.

Protection status National Partial International Low30,000 ha of IBA covered by National Game Reserve (Muela de Cortes, 36,009 ha). 1,662 ha of IBA covered by Natural Reserve (Hoces del Cabriel en Cuenca, 1,662 ha). 16,089 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Hoces del Cabriel, Guadazaôn y Ojos de Moya, 56,136 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Rivers Cabriel and Júcar canyons. 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