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RO039
Mures river lower flood-plain
Location Romania, Arad,Timis
Central coordinates 20o 52.17' East  46o 7.37' North
IBA criteria C1, C2, C6
Area 39,201 ha
Altitude 77 - 119m
Year of IBA assessment 2007

Romanian Ornithological Society



Ornithological information This is an important site for breeding, passage and wintering waterbirds and raptors. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aythya nyroca (10 breeding pairs), Haliaeetus albicilla (3-4 wintering birds) and Crex crex (breeding).

Site description A mixture of meadows and almost unbroken woodland situated along the Mure° river between Arad and the Hungarian border. In wetter areas Salix and Populus dominate with Quercus, Ulmus and Fraxinus on drier sites. Only 14% of the remaining woods are natural, most having been replaced by plantations. The woods are interspersed with clearings, pastures and permanent small marshes and lakes. Flooding occurs each spring.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Black Stork Ciconia nigra passage  1990-2006  400-500 individuals  good  C2  Least Concern 
Saker Falcon Falco cherrug breeding  1990-2006  2-3 breeding pairs  good  C1, C6  Endangered 
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla winter  1990-2006  5-10 individuals  good  C6  Least Concern 
Corncrake Crex crex breeding  1990-2006  20-30 breeding pairs  good  C1  Least Concern 
European Roller Coracias garrulus breeding  1990-2006  35-50 breeding pairs  good  C1  Near Threatened 
Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria breeding  1990-2006  45-65 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Bezdin Lake Nature Reserve 25 protected area contained by site 25  
Lunca MureÅului Inferior - ROSCI0108 Habitats Directive 17,428 protected area contained by site 17,428  
Lunca MureÅului Inferior - ROSPA0069 Birds Directive 17,416 protected area contained by site 17,416  
Prundul Mare Island Nature Reserve 17 protected area contained by site 17  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Alluvial and very wet forest; Broadleaved deciduous woodland  52%
Grassland Humid grasslands  7%
Wetlands (inland) Rivers and streams  5%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Arable land  30%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 30%
forestry 52%
not utilised 18%

Management considerations The main threats are from deforestation, dyke construction and hunting. The area has been proposed as a transboundary reserve.

Protection status National Low International None25 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Bezdin Lake, 25 ha). 17 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Prundul Mare Island), 17 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Mures river lower flood-plain. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/06/2013

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