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FR154
Vallée de la Loire : gorges de la Loire
Location France, Auvergne
Central coordinates 4o 34.00' East  45o 16.00' North
IBA criteria B2, B3, C6
Area 63,000 ha
Altitude 430 - 1,169m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

Ligue Pour La Protection des Oiseaux



Ornithological information An important site for breeding raptors. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Crex crex (breeding).

Site description A rocky area with cliffs, gorges and forests.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus breeding  1991  25-50 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Red Kite Milvus milvus breeding  1991  40-60 breeding pairs  -  B3, C6  Near Threatened 
Black Kite Milvus migrans breeding  1991  50-100 breeding pairs  -  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Short-toed Snake-eagle Circaetus gallicus breeding  1991  15-20 breeding pairs  -  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus breeding  1991  10-15 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus breeding  1991  5-10 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Eagle-owl Bubo bubo breeding  1991  22 breeding pairs  -  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus breeding  1991  100-200 breeding pairs  -  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Black woodpecker Dryocopus martius breeding  1991  40-50 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio breeding  1991  100-500 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Wood Lark Lullula arborea breeding  1991  100-500 breeding pairs  -  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana breeding  1991  10-20 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Bas-en-Banet Hunting Reserve 108 protected area contained by site 108  
GORGES DE L'ARZON - FR8301080 Habitats Directive 877 protected area contained by site 877  
GORGES DE LA LOIRE - FR8212014 Birds Directive 2,490 protected area overlaps with site 2,151  
Gorges de la Loire - FR8312009 Birds Directive 58,821 protected area contained by site 58,821  
GORGES DE LA LOIRE ET AFFLUENTS PARTIE SUD - FR8301081 Habitats Directive 4,987 protected area overlaps with site 4,275  
PELOUSES, LANDES ET HABITATS ROCHEUX DES GORGES DE LA LOIRE - FR8201763 Habitats Directive 2,500 protected area overlaps with site 2,151  
RIVIERES A ECREVISSES A PATTES BLANCHES - FR8301096 Habitats Directive 1,164 protected area is adjacent to site 0  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Alluvial and very wet forest; Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Mixed woodland; Native coniferous woodland  -
Shrubland Heathland  -
Grassland Dry siliceous grassland; Humid grasslands  -
Wetlands (inland) Rivers and streams; Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation  -
Rocky areas Inland cliffs  -
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Highly improved re-seeded landscapes; Perennial crops, orchards and groves  -

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 25%
fisheries/aquaculture -
forestry -
hunting -
tourism/recreation -
urban/industrial/transport -
water management -

Management considerations Hedgerow destruction, water pollution, urbanization and recreation are the main threats.

Protection status National Low International None108 ha of IBA covered by Hunting Reserve (Bas-en-Basset, 108 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Vallée de la Loire : gorges de la Loire. 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