IT188
Cagliari wetlands


Country/territory: Italy
Subnational region(s): Sardegna

IBA Justification: A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C3, C6 (2002)

Area: 9,598 hectares (95.98 km2)

BirdLife Partner(s): Lega Italiana Protezione Uccelli


Site description (2000 baseline)
A complex of brackish coastal wetlands and saltpans around Cagliari in south Sardinia. It includes the following sites: Stagno di Cagliari, Saline di Quartu, Saline di Macchiareddu, Laguna di Santa Gilla, and Stagno di Molentargius. The main activities are salt-extraction and fishing.

Key biodiversity
An important site for a wide variety of wintering waterbirds (30,443 on January 1993; 42,216 on January 1994) and for breeding herons, Phoenicopterus ruber, gulls and terns. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aythya nyroca (max. 12, winter), Larus audouinii (non-breeding visitor).


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Cagliari wetlands (Italy). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/cagliari-wetlands-iba-italy on 16/01/2025.