Data Zone
The site was identified as important in 2000 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Short-toed Snake-eagle Circaetus gallicus | LC | breeding | 1997 | 20-25 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 |
| Black Kite Milvus migrans | LC | 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 | NT | 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 |
The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2000).
| Protected area (PA) | PA designation | PA area (ha) | Relationship of PA with IBA | Overlap of PA 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 |
| Habitat (IUCN level 1) | 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 | - |
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| fisheries/aquaculture | - |
| forestry | - |
| hunting | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
| urban/industrial/transport | - |
| water management | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Hautes garrigues du Montpellierais. Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/hautes-garrigues-du-montpellierais-iba-france on 28/11/2023.
