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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2012 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Chukar Alectoris chukar	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	1,500–2,500 pairs	B2
Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	250–1,000 pairs	B2
European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	150–250 pairs	C6
Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo	LC	passage (2005–2011)	100–500 birds	B1i, C3
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus	LC	passage (2005–2011)	300–1,000 birds	B1i, C2
Little Egret Egretta garzetta	LC	passage (2005–2011)	500–1,000 birds	B1i, C2
Little Owl Athene noctua	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	400–700 pairs	B2
Cyprus Scops-owl Otus cyprius	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	300–700 pairs	B2
Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciata	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	1–3 pairs	B2, C6
European Roller Coracias garrulus	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	80–300 pairs	A1, B2, C1, C6
European Roller Coracias garrulus	LC	passage (2005–2011)	200–800 birds	A1, C1
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	6–8 pairs	C6
Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	100–200 pairs	A3, B2
Cyprus Warbler Curruca melanothorax	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	500–1,000 pairs	A3, B3
Sardinian Warbler Curruca melanocephala	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	5,000–10,000 pairs	A3
Cyprus Wheatear Oenanthe cypriaca	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	1,000–1,500 pairs	A3, B3
Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	400–900 pairs	A3, B2
Cretzschmar's Bunting Emberiza caesia	LC	breeding (2005–2011)	400–1,000 pairs	A3, B3, C6

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2012. The most recent assessment (2016) is shown below.

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Residential and commercial development	happe­ning now	whole of popul­ation/area (>90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	very high
Energy production and mining	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	high

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Not assessed	No management plan exists, but the management planning process has begun	Very little or no conservation action taking place	very low

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1989	Lara-Toxeftra	Παραλία Ωοτοκίας Χελώνων (Ia)	<1
2014	Akamas Peninsula	Περιοχές Εξαιρετικής Φυσικής Καλλονής (VI)	48
2014	Akamas Peninsula	Ακτές και Περιοχές Προστασίας της Φύσης (VI)	49
2014	Faraggi Androlikou, Kranasi kai Ambelakia	Προστατευόμενα Τοπία (III)	2
2014	Vrahoi Inias	Προστατευόμενα Τοπία (III)	<1
2014	Geomorfomata Kathika	Προστατευόμενα Τοπία (III)	<1
2014	Faraggi Kardamilli	Προστατευόμενα Τοπία (III)	<1
2014	Faraggi Petrati	Προστατευόμενα Τοπία (III)	<1
2016	Akamas	Εθνικό Δασικό Πάρκο (II)	37

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Artificial/Terrestrial	38	Perennial crops, orchards and groves; Arable land; Other urban and industrial areas
Shrubland	35	Scrub; Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis
Forest	13	Native coniferous woodland
Grassland	12
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	1
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks)	1

Land use	% of IBA
agriculture	40
forestry	25
military	20
tourism/recreation	10
nature conservation and research	5

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Akamas and Agia Aikaterini – Agia Paraskevi Gorges (Cyprus). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/akamas-and-agia-aikaterini-–-agia-paraskevi-gorges-iba-cyprus on 22/12/2024.