Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A coastal wetland of small lagoons, sandflats, and alluvial forests dominated by
Tamarix, Alnus, and
Salix. Human activities include rice production, livestock farming, fishing and mussel culture.
This is a very important site for breeding, passage and wintering waterbirds. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria:
Aythya nyroca (passage),
Haliaeetus albicilla (wintering),
Aquila clanga (1-3 wintering individuals),
Gallinago media (passage). The site holds 20,000 or more waterbirds in winter, on a regular basis (including
Phalacrocorax pygmeus 5,000;
Anas penelope 1,000;
Calidris alpina 2,500;
Larus ridibundus 7,000;
Larus cachinnans 5,000).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Threats include illegal housing, intensive livestock farming, and water pollution from industry and intensive agriculture. Conservation projects have included LIFE projects on
Numenius tenuirostris, Phalacrocorax pygmeus, and
Anser erythropus. The area is a candidate SAC.
National Partial
International Partial2,381 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Stergiou-Aliakmon/Aiginiou, 2,381 ha). 1,200 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Delta Aliakmona/Kleidiou, 1,200 ha). 2,150 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Delta Axiou-Chalastras, 2,150 ha). Part of IBA overlaps with Protected Area. 11,808 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Delta Axiou, Loudia and Aliakmon-Alyki Kitrous, 11,808 ha). 13,763 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Delta Axiou-Loudia- Aliakmona-Alyki Kitrous, 13,763 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Axios, Loudias and Aliakmonas rivers' deltas (Greece). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/axios-loudias-and-aliakmonas-rivers-deltas-iba-greece on 23/11/2024.
