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close| Location | Slovenia, Prekmurje |
| Central coordinates | 16o 10.00' East 46o 47.00' North |
| IBA criteria | B2, C6 |
| Area | 41,710 ha |
| Altitude | 174 - 416m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2011 |
Ornithological information The traditionally managed habitats support important numbers of several SPECs, as well as many more in less significant numbers, e.g. Coracias garrulus, Lanius minor, Phoenicurus phoenicurus, some of which may meet IBA criteria once quantitative surveys have been made.
Site description Gorièko is in the north-easternmost part of Slovenia, on the border with Austria and Hungary. It is a mainly hilly region of Eocene sandstone, traversed by numerous streams, and with lower and flatter land in the eastern part where riverine vegetation and wet meadows are present. In summer the area is very dry. The soil in the east is not fertile, so farming is non-intensive, but is much more fertile in the west, where orchards, vineyards, dry grasslands and small cultivated fields are the main land-uses. Small settlements are common. The area is economically less developed and therefore habitats and wildlife remain in good condition.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Stork Ciconia nigra | breeding | 2002-2011 | 4-5 breeding pairs | - | C6 | Least Concern |
| Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus | breeding | 2004-2010 | 7-9 breeding pairs | - | C6 | Least Concern |
| Common Scops-owl Otus scops | breeding | 1999 | 210-250 breeding pairs | - | B2 | Least Concern |
| Wood Lark Lullula arborea | breeding | 1997-1998 | 180-240 breeding pairs | - | B2, C6 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gorièko - SI3000221 | Habitats Directive | 44,823 | protected area overlaps with site | 43,860 | |
| Gorièko - SI5000009 | Birds Directive | 36,599 | protected area contained by site | 36,599 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | Mixed woodland; Native coniferous woodland | 15% |
| Shrubland | Scrub | 10% |
| Grassland | Mesophile grasslands | 30% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Fens, transition mires and springs; Rivers and streams; Standing freshwater | 15% |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Arable land; Perennial crops, orchards and groves | 30% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 40% |
| forestry | 30% |
| urban/industrial/transport | 20% |
| unknown | 10% |
Management considerations The main threat is the abandonment of traditional, non-intensive agricultural land-use, which may lead to a decline in numbers of some birds, as would any intensification of farming (e.g. use of pesticides, drainage, and renovation of old orchards). The fauna and flora have not been surveyed in detail, and intensive field surveys are needed to provide quantitative and qualitative bird population data. The non-intensive farming seems of great importance in conserving old varieties of fruit trees and nationally threatened arable weeds.
Protection status National None International None
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Goričko. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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