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RO031
Trascău Mountains
Location Romania, Alba,Cluj
Central coordinates 23o 29.62' East  46o 22.71' North
IBA criteria C1, C6
Area 99,421 ha
Altitude 598 - 1,381m
Year of IBA assessment 2007

Romanian Ornithological Society



Ornithological information This is an important area for breeding raptors, forest species and birds associated with rocky habitats.

Site description Two limestone gorges in the Trascãu mountains. The steep slopes are partially covered by herbs, bushes and Pinus trees. Quercus, Fagus and Carpinus dominated woodlands, grasslands and hay-meadows also occur. The surrounds are used for agriculture and cattle-grazing, with tourism in the gorges.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus breeding  1990-2006  2-3 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus breeding  1990-2006  40-60 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos breeding  1990-2006  11-12 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Corncrake Crex crex breeding  1990-2006  30-40 breeding pairs  good  C1  Least Concern 
Eurasian Eagle-owl Bubo bubo breeding  1990-2006  5-8 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos breeding  1990-2006  320-360 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Black woodpecker Dryocopus martius breeding  1990-2006  120-140 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Grey-faced Woodpecker Picus canus breeding  1990-2006  380-420 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Wood Lark Lullula arborea breeding  1990-2006  2,000-2,700 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis breeding  1990-2006  18,000-25,000 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Cheile Turenilor - ROSCI0034 Habitats Directive 105 protected area contained by site 105  
Cheile Turzii - ROSCI0035 Habitats Directive 324 protected area contained by site 324  
Intregalde Nature Reserve 355 protected area contained by site 355  
MunÅii TrascÄului - ROSPA0087 Birds Directive 58,767 protected area overlaps with site 51,807  
Râmeti Nature Reserve 200 protected area contained by site 200  
TrascÄu - ROSCI0253 Habitats Directive 50,102 protected area overlaps with site 43,154  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Native coniferous woodland  31%
Grassland Steppes and dry calcareous grassland  35%
Rocky areas Inland cliffs; Scree & boulders  14%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial)   20%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 65%
fisheries/aquaculture 25%
forestry 20%
hunting -
nature conservation and research -

Management considerations The main threat is from increasing and currently uncontrolled tourism. Unregulated climbing threatens breeding species such as Aquila chrysaetos. Poaching of game species occurs.

Protection status National Partial International None355 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (întregalde, 355 ha). 200 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Râmeþi, 200 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Trascău Mountains. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013

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