Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A mountain area in the western Alps of Italy, between the rivers Dora Baltea and Orco. The site includes the area of Monte Emilius. A wide range of montane habitats are present, relatively intact and little disturbed by man˜from deciduous forests to glaciers. The main land-use is nature conservation. The most managed habitats are the forests.
This is one of the best areas in the Alps for birds of the Eurasian high-montane biome; five species occur in good numbers, out of the 10 possible species. Also important for
Aquila chrysaetos.
Gypaetus barbatus is present, having been reintroduced at the nearby protected areas of Vanoise National Park (France; where it bred for the first time in 1997), Mercantour Natural Park (France) and Argentera Natural Park (Italy).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
In some areas, forests are periodically cleared and cut, while new forestry roads are continually being made. Research focuses mainly on ibex
Capra ibex (numbering about 4,000, the most important population in the world) and chamois
Rupicapra rupicapra; the only studied bird species is
Aquila chrysaetos.
National Partial
International Partial70,200 ha of IBA covered by National Park (Gran Paradiso, 70,200 ha). 3,521 ha of IBA covered by Regional Nature Park (Mont Avic, 3,521 ha). 70,000 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso, 70,000 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Gran Paradiso (Italy). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/gran-paradiso-iba-italy on 23/11/2024.
