Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2011 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles alchata | LC | resident (2009) | 40–50 pairs | C2, C6 |
| Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax | NT | resident (2009) | 25–75 birds | A1, C1, C6 |
| Purple Heron Ardea purpurea | LC | breeding (2009) | 25–50 pairs | B1i, C2, C6 |
| Eurasian Thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus | LC | resident (1995) | 275–335 pairs | B2, C6 |
| Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus | LC | winter (2010) | 121 birds | C6 |
| Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus | LC | breeding (2010) | 12–27 pairs | C6 |
| European Roller Coracias garrulus | LC | breeding (2006) | 32–64 pairs | A1, C1, C2, C6 |
| Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor | LC | breeding (2010) | 1–20 pairs | C6 |
| Dupont's Lark Chersophilus duponti | VU | resident (2009) | present | C6 |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2011. The most recent assessment (2008) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2008 | not assessed | very high | very low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | unset | poor | |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | whole of population/area (>90%) | rapid decline (>30% over 3 generations) | very high |
| Biological resource use | happening now | whole of population/area (>90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Transportation and service corridors | 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 |
| Some of area covered (10–49%) | Not assessed | Not assessed | very low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Mas de Melons | Reserva Natural Parcial (IV) | 5 |
| 1990 | Utxesa | Reserva Natural de Fauna Salvaje (IV) | 1 |
| 1992 | Mas de Melons-Alfés | Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) (VI) | 32 |
| 1992 | Utxesa | Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) (VI) | 16 |
| 1992 | Serós-Tossals de Montmeneu | Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) (VI) | 11 |
| 1992 | Erms d`Aitona | Plan Especial de Protección (PEIN) (VI) | 4 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial/Terrestrial | 26 | Arable land; Perennial crops, orchards and groves |
| Grassland | 26 | Steppes and dry calcareous grassland |
| Shrubland | 26 | Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis |
| Wetlands (inland) | - | Rivers and streams |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 26 |
| hunting | - |
| military | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
| water management | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Cogul-Alfés steppes (Spain). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/cogul-alfés-steppes-iba-spain on 23/12/2024.