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Year of most recent IBA criteria assessment: 2000

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species	Current IUCN Red List Category	Season	Year(s) of estimate	Population estimate	IBA Criteria Triggered
European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus	LC	breeding	1997	100-250 breeding pairs	C6
Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax	NT	breeding	1996	25-30 breeding pairs	A1, C1, C6
Eurasian Eagle-owl Bubo bubo	LC	breeding	1997	30-40 breeding pairs	B2, C6
Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciata	LC	breeding	1996	4 breeding pairs	B2, C6
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus	LC	breeding	1997	20-30 breeding pairs	C6
Short-toed Snake-eagle Circaetus gallicus	LC	breeding	1997	20-25 breeding pairs	B2, C6
Milvus migrans	NR	breeding	1997	10-20 breeding pairs	C6
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster	LC	breeding	1997	50-250 breeding pairs	B2
European Roller Coracias garrulus	LC	breeding	1997	30-50 breeding pairs	B2, C6
Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator	LC	breeding	1997	50-250 breeding pairs	B2
Woodlark Lullula arborea	LC	breeding	1997	100-300 breeding pairs	C6
Dartford Warbler Curruca undata	NT	breeding	1997	250-750 breeding pairs	B2, C6
Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris	LC	breeding	1997	100-500 breeding pairs	B2, C6
Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana	LC	breeding	1997	50-250 breeding pairs	B2, C6
A4iv Species group - soaring birds/cranes	n/a	passage	1997	min 3,000 individuals	B1iv, C5

Note: This table presents the IBA criteria triggered and the species that triggered then at the time of assessment, the current IUCN Red List category may vary from that which was in place at that time.

For more information about the IBA assessment process and criteria please click here

Protected Area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
St Guillhem-le-Désert	Réserve biologique	219	protected area contained by site	0
Ravin des Arcs	Arrêté de protection de biotope	193	protected area contained by site	0
Puechabon	Réserve biologique	5	protected area contained by site	0
Puech des Mourgues	Arrêté de protection de biotope	77	protected area contained by site	0
Pic Saint-Loup	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	4,430	protected area contained by site	4,440
Le Vidourle	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	209	protected area overlaps with site	38
L'Hortus	Arrêté de protection de biotope	256	protected area contained by site	0
Hautes Garrigues du Montpelliérais	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	45,444	protected area overlaps with site	43,023
Gorges de Rieutord; Fage et Cagnasse	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	12,308	protected area overlaps with site	6,013
Gorges de la Vis et de la Virenque	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	5,501	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Gorges de la Vis et cirque de Navacelles	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	20,277	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Gorges de l'Hérault	Arrêté de protection de biotope	408	protected area contained by site	0
Gorges de l'Hérault	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	21,736	protected area overlaps with site	21,736
Causse du Larzac	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	29,619	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Causse du Larzac	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	29,555	protected area is adjacent to site	0

IUCN Habitat	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Forest	Broadleaved deciduous woodland, Native coniferous woodland, Alluvial and very wet forest, Broadleaved evergreen woodland	-
Shrubland	Heathland, Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis	-
Grassland	Steppes and dry calcareous grassland	-
Wetlands (inland)	Standing freshwater, Rivers and streams	-
Caves and Subterranean Habitats (non-aquatic)	Caves	-
Artificial/Terrestrial	Highly improved re-seeded landscapes, Arable land, Perennial crops, orchards and groves, Other urban and industrial areas, Ruderal land	-
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks)	Scree & boulders, Inland cliffs	-

For further information about the habitat classification please click here.

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
agriculture	-
fisheries/aquaculture	-
forestry	-
hunting	-
tourism/recreation	-
urban/industrial/transport	-
water management	-

For further information about the land use classification please click here.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2022) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Hautes garrigues du Montpellierais. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/01/2022.