GR119
Divari Pylou (Gialova) lagoon and Sfaktiria island


Site description (2000 baseline):

Site location and context
The wetland can be divided into brackish lagoons and freshwater marshes. Beyond these is a buffer zone of cultivated fields and maquis. The main human activities are fishing, livestock- and arable-farming, tourism and hunting.



Key biodiversity
This is an important site for wintering and passage waterbirds. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Pelecanus crispus (passage), Aythya nyroca (10-20 passage individuals), Falco naumanni (10-20 passage individuals), Gallinago media (10-20 passage individuals).



Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The main threats are fishing, increasing salinity in the freshwater marsh as a result of ground and surface water abstraction for agriculture, infilling of the wetland and hunting. The area is a candidate SAC.



Protected areas
National High International None600 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Limni Divari-Valtos/Pylou-Romanou, 700 ha).




Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Divari Pylou (Gialova) lagoon and Sfaktiria island (Greece). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/divari-pylou-(gialova)-lagoon-and-sfaktiria-island-iba-greece on 23/11/2024.