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FR264
Parc National des Ecrins
Location France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Central coordinates 6o 16.00' East  44o 38.00' North
IBA criteria B2, C2, C6
Area 120,000 ha
Altitude 800 - 4,100m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

Ligue Pour La Protection des Oiseaux



Ornithological information The site is important for alpine birds. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Crex crex (breeding).

Site description This large site comprises alpine meadows, cliffs and rocky slopes, glaciers and permanent snow, moorland, deciduous and conifer forests and a reservoir. The main human activity is stock-raising.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Hazel Grouse Bonasa bonasia breeding  1991  50-75 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix breeding  1991  250-300 breeding pairs  -  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta breeding  1991  200-300 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Rock Partridge Alectoris graeca breeding  1991  300-400 breeding pairs  -  B2, C6  Near Threatened 
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus breeding  1991  6-7 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus breeding  1991  30 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Black Kite Milvus migrans breeding  1991  30-40 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Short-toed Snake-eagle Circaetus gallicus breeding  1991  10-11 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos breeding  1991  33 breeding pairs  -  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Pygmy-owl Glaucidium passerinum breeding  1991  5-10 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus breeding  1991  10 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus breeding  1991  100-200 breeding pairs  -  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Black woodpecker Dryocopus martius breeding  1991  100-200 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio breeding  1991  500-1,000 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax breeding  1991  500-600 breeding pairs  -  B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Wood Lark Lullula arborea breeding  1991  500-1,000 breeding pairs  -  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana breeding  1991  100-500 breeding pairs  -  B2, C6  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Cirque du Grand Lac des Estaris National Nature Reserve 145 protected area contained by site 145  
COMBEYNOT - LAUTARET - ECRINS - FR9301498 Habitats Directive 9,944 protected area overlaps with site 8,258  
Ecrins National Park - Core Area 91,800 protected area contained by site 91,800  
FORETS, LANDES ET PRAIRIES DE FAUCHE DES VERSANTS DU COL D'ORNON - FR8201753 Habitats Directive 4,775 protected area overlaps with site 321  
Haute Vallée de la Séveraisse National Nature Reserve 155 protected area contained by site 155  
Haute Vallée du Béranger National Nature Reserve 85 protected area contained by site 85  
Haute Vallée du Vénéon National Nature Reserve 90 protected area contained by site 90  
Les Ecrins - FR9310036 Birds Directive 91,945 protected area contained by site 91,945  
MASSIF DE LA MUZELLE EN OISANS - PARC DES ECRINS - FR8201751 Habitats Directive 16,676 protected area contained by site 16,676  
MILIEUX ALLUVIAUX, PELOUSES STEPPIQUES ET PESSIERES DU BASSIN DE BOURG-D'OISANS - FR8201738 Habitats Directive 3,372 protected area overlaps with site 342  
Pics de Combeynot Nature Reserve 685 protected area contained by site 685  
STEPPIQUE DURANCIEN ET QUEYRASSIN - FR9301502 Habitats Directive 19,698 protected area overlaps with site 980  
VALGAUDEMAR - FR9301506 Habitats Directive 9,974 protected area overlaps with site 7,033  
Vallee du Torrent de Saint-Pierre Nature Reserve 20 protected area contained by site 20  
VALLON DES BANS - VALLEE DU FOURNEL - FR9301505 Habitats Directive 8,841 protected area contained by site 8,841  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Alluvial and very wet forest; Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Mixed woodland; Native coniferous woodland  10%
Shrubland Heathland  12%
Grassland Alpine, subalpine and boreal grassland; Dry siliceous grassland; Humid grasslands; Mesophile grasslands; Steppes and dry calcareous grassland  21%
Wetlands (inland) Fens, transition mires and springs; Raised bogs; Rivers and streams; Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation  -
Rocky areas Inland cliffs; Scree & boulders  -
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Perennial crops, orchards and groves  -
Caves Caves  -

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 42%
fisheries/aquaculture 5%
forestry 5%
tourism/recreation 1%
urban/industrial/transport -

Management considerations The site is being degraded by afforestation with Pinus and tourists disturb breeding birds. In addition, nearby urban development threatens the site.

Protection status National Partial International Partial145 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Grand Lac des Estaris, 145 ha). 155 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Haute vallée de la Séveraise, 155 ha). 85 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Haute vallée du Béranger, 85 ha). 20 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Vallée du Torrent de Saint-Pierre, 20 ha). 90 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Vallée du Vénéon, 90 ha). 685 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Pics de Combeynot, 685 ha). 91,800 ha of IBA covered by National Park (Parc national des Ecrins, 91,800 ha). 91,800 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Les Ecrins, 91,800 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Parc National des Ecrins. 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