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close| Location | Albania, Fier,Lushnjë |
| Central coordinates | 19o 25.00' East 40o 53.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2 |
| Area | 5,450 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 5m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information The site is important for wintering waterbirds (45,000 individuals in 1996; 68,171 individuals in 1997) and for breeding colonial waterbirds, including Pelecanus crispus. The site is also potentially very important for the globally threatened Numenius tenuirostris.
Site description Karavasta is the largest wetland in Albania, with the Karavasta lagoon forming the largest part of the complex. The lagoon is shielded from the sea by a sandy bar (Divjaka) covered with pine forest dominated by Pinus pinaster and P. pinea. Karavasta comprises a shallow inner lagoon, and a smaller outer lagoon. The inner lagoon has many peninsulas and small, low islands with muddy shores and some areas of bare sand. A sandy bar covered by pines separates the two lagoons. In the inner lagoon only artisanal fishery is practised, but in the outer one there are more intensive fisheries.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope | winter | 1997 | 24,643 individuals | good | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata | winter | 1997 | 5,162 individuals | - | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Common Teal Anas crecca | winter | 1996 | 5,241-9,720 individuals | good | B1i | Least Concern |
| Great Egret Casmerodius albus | passage | 1992 | 220 individuals | good | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus | resident | 1996 | 11-62 breeding pairs | good | A1, A4i, B1i | Vulnerable |
| Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus | winter | 1996 | 139-171 individuals | good | A1, A4i, B1i | Vulnerable |
| Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus | passage | 1996 | 400 individuals | good | A1, A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo | passage | 1996 | 1,800 individuals | good | B1i | Least Concern |
| Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga | non-breeding | 1992 | 3 individuals | good | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga | winter | 1996 | 6 individuals | good | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | winter | 1996 | 1,079-1,763 individuals | good | A4i, B1i | Least Concern |
| Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola | breeding | 1996 | 50-130 breeding pairs | good | B1i, B2 | Least Concern |
| Little Tern Sterna albifrons | breeding | 1993 | 75-100 breeding pairs | medium | B2 | Least Concern |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | winter | - | - | unknown | A4iii |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Divjake-Karavasta | National Park | 22,230 | protected area contained by site | 1,200 |
|
| Karavasta Lagoon | Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) | 20,000 | protected area contains site | 5,450 |
|
| Karavasta Lagoon IBA | Game Reserve | 1,200 | protected area contained by site | 1,200 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | Alluvial and very wet forest; Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Mixed woodland; Native coniferous woodland | 13% |
| Shrubland | Scrub | 5% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Rivers and streams; Standing brackish and salt water; Water fringe vegetation | - |
| Sea | Open Sea | 10% |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Arable land; Other urban and industrial areas | 5% |
| Coastline | Lagoons; Mud flats & sand flats; Salt marshes; Sand dunes & beaches | - |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| forestry | 15% |
| hunting | 35% |
| fisheries/aquaculture | 85% |
| nature conservation and research | 15% |
| tourism/recreation | 10% |
| agriculture | 5% |
Management considerations A management plan has been developed. The area is threatened by plans to build a new recreation complex and by plans to drain parts of the lagoon (1996). Disturbance is high from tourists, local people and illegal fishing.
Protection status National Partial International High1,250 ha of IBA covered by National Park (Divjaka). 4,200 ha of IBA covered by Game Reserve. 5,450 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Karavasta Lagoon; 20,000 ha).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Karavasta Lagoon. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013
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