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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).

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

For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

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		-

For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

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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.