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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2000 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.

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

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus	LC	breeding (1996)	5–15 breeding pairs	C6

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1988	Bocholt; Hechtel-Eksel, Meeuwen-Gruitrode, Neerpelt en Peer	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IV)	100
1990	openbaar bos Limburg	Openbaar bos (VI)	5
2002	Vallei- en brongebied van de Zwarte Beek; Bolisserbeek en Dommel met heide en vengebieden.	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IV)	4
2002	Abeek met aangrenzende moerasgebieden	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IV)	3
2002	Vallei van de Abeek	Erkend natuurreservaat (IV)	1
2007	Dommelvallei	Erkend natuurreservaat (IV)	1

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Artificial/Terrestrial	80	Arable land; Perennial crops, orchards and groves; Urban parks and gardens; Other urban and industrial areas; Ruderal land
Forest	5	Mixed woodland; Alluvial and very wet forest
Wetlands (inland)	5	Rivers and streams

Land use	% of IBA
agriculture	80
urban/industrial/transport	10
nature conservation and research	5
tourism/recreation	5

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Gebieden gelegen te Peer en Hechtel-Eksel (Belgium). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/gebieden-gelegen-te-peer-en-hechtel-eksel-iba-belgium on 06/01/2025.