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ES156
El Moro marshes
Location Spain, País Valenciano
Central coordinates 0o 15.00' West  39o 35.00' North
IBA criteria A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C3, C6
Area 350 ha
Altitude 0 - 10m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

SEO/BirdLife



Ornithological information An important area for breeding herons, ducks and waders.

Site description A small wetland with abundant water-fringe vegetation. Formerly a coastal lagoon, the site now contains salt and freshwater marshes, rice-fields and reedbeds (Phragmites).

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris breeding  1996  2 breeding pairs  good  B2, C6  Vulnerable 
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina breeding  1996  119 breeding pairs  good  B1i, B2, C3  Least Concern 
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus breeding  1996  30 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio resident  1996  18 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus breeding  1996  86-300 breeding pairs  good  A4i, B1i, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus breeding  1996  56 breeding pairs  good  B2  Least Concern 
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola breeding  1996  13-15 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida breeding  1996  108 breeding pairs  good  B1i, B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Marjal dels Moros - ES0000470 Birds Directive 627 protected area overlaps with site 287  
Marjal dels Moros. - ES0000148 Birds Directive 620 protected area overlaps with site 286  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Wetlands (inland) Standing brackish and salt water; Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation  -
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Arable land  10%
Coastline Shingle & stony beaches  -

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 10%
hunting 90%

Management considerations Industrial development, drainage, dumping and the use of pesticides are the most important threat to the marsh. Illegal hunting and recreational activities also cause disturbance. Ten percent of the site is a controlled hunting area.

Protection status National None International High350 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Marjal del Moro, 350 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: El Moro marshes. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013

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