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HR001
Alluvial wetlands of the River Danube
Location Croatia, Osjecko-baranjska zupanija
Central coordinates 18o 50.00' East  45o 40.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2
Area 37,111 ha
Altitude 84 - 89m
Year of IBA assessment 2001





Ornithological information The site is important for breeding herons. The site holds 20,000 or more waterbirds in winter, on a regular basis. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aquila heliaca (passage), Falco naumanni, Crex crex (breeding).

Site description Alluvial wetlands along the River Danube from the Croatian-Hungarian border south to the mouth of the River Drava. Area includes alluvial Quercus forests, extensive freshwater wetlands and reedbeds (Phragmites) and commercial fish-ponds. Since 1991 the area has been completely occupied by military forces.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos winter  -  20,000 individuals  -  B1i  Least Concern 
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca breeding  1991  50 breeding pairs  medium  A1, B2  Near Threatened 
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca passage  1994  1,000 individuals  -  A1, A4i  Near Threatened 
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus breeding  -  100 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Least Concern 
Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax breeding  -  100-400 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Least Concern 
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides breeding  -  70 breeding pairs  medium  B1i, B2  Least Concern 
Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus breeding  2001  3-10 breeding pairs  good  A1  Least Concern 
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla resident  -  15-20 breeding pairs  good  A1, B2  Least Concern 
Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga winter  2000  10 individuals  good  A1  Vulnerable 
A4iii Species group - waterbirds winter  -  -  unknown  A4iii   

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Kopacki Rit Nature Park 17,700 protected area contained by site 23,175  
Nature Park Kopacki rit Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 23,894 protected area contained by site 23,175  
Podpanj Special Reserve 85 protected area contained by site 75  
Uze Podrucje Kopackog Rita Special Reserve 7,220 protected area contained by site 7,220  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Alluvial and very wet forest; Broadleaved deciduous woodland  40%
Grassland Humid grasslands  5%
Wetlands (inland) Rivers and streams; Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation  50%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Arable land; Forestry plantations; Other urban and industrial areas  5%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 10%
fisheries/aquaculture 5%
forestry 40%
hunting 80%
nature conservation and research 50%
tourism/recreation 30%

Management considerations There are plans for river canalization, forestry and use of the site as an exclusive state hunting property. The entire area has been proposed for protection as a National Park.

Protection status National Partial International Partial7,000 ha of IBA covered by Special Reserve (Kopacki Rit, 7,000 ha). 17,200 ha of IBA covered by Nature Park (Kopacki Rit, 17,200 ha). 17,770 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Kopacki Rit, 17,770 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Alluvial wetlands of the River Danube. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/05/2013

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