email a friend
printable version
PT030
River Guadiana
Location Portugal, Alentejo,Algarve
Central coordinates 7o 39.00' West  37o 42.00' North
IBA criteria A1, B2, C1, C6
Area 76,578 ha
Altitude 170 - 310m
Year of IBA assessment 2002

Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves



Ornithological information An important area for breeding raptors, especially cliff-nesting species, but with good numbers of some birds of steppic habitats and of wetlands as well. Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Circaetus gallicus (1-5 pairs).

Site description This recently designated Natural Park includes a stretch of the lower Guadiana valley and the surrounding areas, close to the south-east border of Portugal. The valley is steep, with cliffs and sclerophyllous scrub. In the remaining areas there are mainly steppic habitats, non-intensive cereal fields and scrub.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Black Stork Ciconia nigra breeding  2002  1-2 breeding pairs  good  B2, C6  Least Concern 
White Stork Ciconia ciconia resident  1996  51-100 breeding pairs  good  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni breeding  2001  48-49 breeding pairs  good  A1, C1, C6  Least Concern 
Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus resident  2001  6-15 breeding pairs  medium  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Black Kite Milvus migrans breeding  1996  1-5 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus non-breeding  1996  frequent [units unknown]  -  C6  Near Threatened 
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus breeding  1996  11-50 breeding pairs  medium  C6  Least Concern 
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos resident  2002  1 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciatus resident  2001  4-5 breeding pairs  good  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax resident  1996  101-250 individuals  good  A1, B2, C1, C6  Near Threatened 
Common Crane Grus grus winter  1996  101-250 individuals  medium  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis resident  1996  80-120 individuals  medium  C6  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Castro Verde - PTZPE0046 Birds Directive 85,345 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Guadiana - PTCON0036 Habitats Directive 38,463 protected area overlaps with site 17,922  
Vale do Guadiana Nature Park 69,669 protected area contained by site 69,773  
Vale do Guadiana - PTZPE0047 Birds Directive 76,547 protected area contained by site 76,547  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Broadleaved evergreen woodland  12%
Shrubland Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis  50%
Wetlands (inland) Rivers and streams; Water fringe vegetation  4%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Arable land; Forestry plantations; Perennial crops, orchards and groves  34%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
hunting -
nature conservation and research -
tourism/recreation -
fisheries/aquaculture -
forestry -

Management considerations Ongoing abandonment of agriculture will lead to an increase in the extent of scrub and a reduction in extent of steppic habitats, reducing densities of open-country bird species. There are plans to build a dam downriver, which will partially flood the area, and another large reservoir is planned upstream, which will affect water-flow through the site.

Protection status National High International Partial69,733 ha of IBA covered by Natural Park (Guadiana, 69,733 ha). IBA overlaps with Special Protection Area.

Contribute  Please click here to help BirdLife conserve the world's birds - your data for this IBA and others are vital for helping protect the environment.

Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: River Guadiana. 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