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ES240
Fuente de Piedra, Gosque and Campillos lakes
Location Spain, Andalucía
Central coordinates 4o 45.00' West  37o 10.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A4i, B1i, B2, C1, C2, C3, C6
Area 10,600 ha
Altitude 400 - 550m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

SEO/BirdLife



Ornithological information This is an important site for breeding and wintering waterbirds. It is the only regular breeding area for Phoenicopterus ruber in Spain. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Tetrax tetrax (83 wintering individuals).

Site description A wetland complex comprising a group of shallow, seasonal, brackish lakes, surrounded by cultivation.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala breeding  1996  2-5 breeding pairs  medium  A1, B1i, B2, C1, C2, C6  Endangered 
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus breeding  1996  2,000-16,500 breeding pairs  good  A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus winter  1994  3,549 individuals  medium  A4i, B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Common Crane Grus grus winter  1996  500-2,140 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus resident  1996  100 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Least Concern 
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus winter  1994  4,629-16,000 individuals  medium  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica breeding  1992  400-676 breeding pairs  good  A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Laguna de Campillos Natural Reserve 80 protected area contained by site 80  
Laguna de Fuente de Piedra Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 1,364 protected area contained by site 1,364  
LAGUNA DE FUENTE DE PIEDRA - ES0000033 Birds Directive 8,663 protected area overlaps with site 7,203  
Laguna de Fuentepiedra Natural Reserve 1,554 protected area contained by site 1,554  
Laguna de la Ratosa Natural Reserve 23 protected area contained by site 23  
LAGUNA DE LA RATOSA - ES6170001 Birds Directive 172 protected area contained by site 172  
Laguna del Gosque Natural Reserve 28 protected area contained by site 28  
LAGUNA DEL GOSQUE - ES6180003 Birds Directive 415 protected area contained by site 415  
LAGUNAS DE CAMPILLOS - ES6170015 Birds Directive 1,344 protected area overlaps with site 2,030  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Wetlands (inland) Standing brackish and salt water; Water fringe vegetation  15%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Arable land; Perennial crops, orchards and groves  85%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 85%
hunting 85%
nature conservation and research 15%

Management considerations Threats include the expansion of olive cultivation, sedimentation in the lakes, burning of the reedbeds, drainage and over-extraction of groundwater and infilling with rubbish. A management plan is being produced.

Protection status National Partial International Partial1,554 ha of IBA covered by Natural Reserve (Laguna de Fuentepiedra, 1,554 ha). 80 ha of IBA covered by Natural Reserve (Laguna de Campillos, 80 ha). 23 ha of IBA covered by Natural Reserve (Laguna de la Ratosa, 23 ha). 28 ha of IBA covered by Natural Reserve (Laguna del Gosque, 28 ha). 1,554 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Laguna de Fuente de Piedra, 1,554 ha). 1,364 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Laguna de Fuentepiedra, 1,364 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Fuente de Piedra, Gosque and Campillos lakes. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013

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