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close| Location | Spain, Islas Canarias |
| Central coordinates | 14o 5.00' West 28o 32.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, B2, B3, C1, C6 |
| Area | 1,700 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 323m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information The plain supports breeding steppic species (very important for Chlamydotis undulata); the valley is important for wintering and migrating aquatic birds (herons, waders and ducks).
Site description A dammed valley (Los Molinos gully) and a stony plain (Plain of La Laguna) situated in the north-west of Fuerteventura. Dry calcareous grassland and drought-resistant scrub exist with crops and a small copse of Tamarix canariensis. Human activities include livestock-farming (dromedaries Camelus dromedarius and goats).
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata | resident | 1995 | 6 breeding pairs | good | B2 | Vulnerable |
| Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor | resident | 1995 | frequent [units unknown] | - | B2 | Least Concern |
| Plain Swift Apus unicolor | resident | 1995 | present [units unknown] | - | B3 | Least Concern |
| Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens | resident | 1995 | present [units unknown] | - | B2 | Least Concern |
| Fuerteventura Stonechat Saxicola dacotiae | resident | 1995 | 10 breeding pairs | poor | A1, B2, C1, C6 | Near Threatened |
| Berthelot's Pipit Anthus berthelotii | resident | 1996 | abundant [units unknown] | - | B3 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Betancuria | Rural Park | 16,544 | protected area overlaps with site | 915 |
|
| Betancuria - ES0000097 | Birds Directive | 16,672 | protected area overlaps with site | 1,073 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | Steppes and dry calcareous grassland | 26% |
| Desert | Semidesert | 26% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Rivers and streams | - |
| Rocky areas | Inland cliffs | - |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Arable land | 26% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 26% |
| military | - |
| tourism/recreation | 26% |
| water management | - |
Management considerations The main threats are overgrazing, disturbance to birds caused by tourists and illegal hunting (especially on the reservoir).
Protection status National Partial International Partial915 ha of IBA covered by Rural Park (Betancuria, 16,544 ha). 915 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Betancuria, 15,538 ha).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Los Molinos gully-Plain of La Laguna. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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