The site was identified as important in 2005 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):Species | Current IUCN Red List Category | Season | Year(s) | Population estimate at site | IBA criteria met |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus | LC | resident | 1996 | 15-17 breeding pairs | B2, C6 |
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca | VU | resident | 1996 | 2-3 breeding pairs | A1, C1, C6 |
Saker Falcon Falco cherrug | EN | resident | 1996 | 1-3 breeding pairs | B2, C6 |
Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra | LC | resident | 1996 | 100-150 breeding pairs | C6 |
Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris | LC | breeding | 1996 | 35-38 breeding pairs | C6 |
The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2005).
IBA conservation assessment | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
2013 | very unfavourable | high | low |
Was the whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
yes | habitat | medium |
State (condition of the trigger species' populations) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scientific name | Common name | Reference population | Actual population | Units | % of population remaining | Result |
Aquila heliaca | Eastern Imperial Eagle | 6 | 4 | individuals | 67 | unfavourable |
Buteo rufinus | Long-legged Buzzard | 19 | 7 | breeding pairs | 37 | very unfavourable |
Falco cherrug | Saker Falcon | 2 | 0 | individuals | 0 | very unfavourable |
State (condition of the trigger species' habitats) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Habitat | Habitat detail | Reference area (ha) | Actual area (ha) | Habitat quantity (% remaining) | Habitat quality (carrying capacity) | Result |
Grassland | 0 | 0 | very poor (< 40%) | very poor (< 40%) | very unfavourable |
Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
Agricultural expansion and intensification | annual & perennial non-timber crops - agro-industry farming | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | some of area/population (10-49%) | very rapid to severe deterioration | medium |
Biological resource use | hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - persecution/control | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | whole area/population (>90%) | very rapid to severe deterioration | high |
Energy production and mining | mining and quarrying | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Protected-area designation | Management planning | Other conservation action | Result |
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | No management planning has taken place | Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity | low |
Protected area (PA) | PA designation | PA area (ha) | Relationship of PA with IBA | Overlap of PA with IBA (ha) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Reka Maritsa | Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) | 14,693 | protected area overlaps with site | 1,194 |
Reka Luda Yana | Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) | 474 | protected area overlaps with site | 37 |
Ognianovsko-Sinitevski rid | Zashtitena Mestnost | 843 | protected area contained by site | 0 |
Nahodishte na atinska merendera selo Isperihovo | Zashtitena Mestnost | 37 | protected area contained by site | 0 |
Besaparski vazvishenia | Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) | 6,743 | protected area contained by site | 6,743 |
Besaparski ridove | Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) | 14,765 | is identical to site | 14,765 |
Habitat (IUCN level 1) | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
---|---|---|
Grassland | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Besaparski Hills. Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/besaparski-hills-iba-bulgaria on 26/09/2023.