Data Zone
Country/territory: Albania
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i (2000)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 4,180 hectares (41.80 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2017 | not assessed | very high | medium |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2000 baseline)
Narta is one of the largest and most important coastal wetlands of Albania. The site comprises a large, shallow and brackish lake (Lake Nartes) and a number of coastal lagoons between the Vjose river delta and the city of Vlore. Large parts of the area have been converted into agricultural land or saltpans. The lake surface decreases by 30% (especially when the connection with the sea is blocked) during the summer and large mudflats are exposed which support saltmarsh. Coastal habitats include dunes, beaches and rocky shores, with Pinus pinea and Pinus halepensis. Surrounding habitats consist of olive-groves, pine plantations and scattered poplar plantations. The site includes the small Pishe Poro lagoon (former (1989) IBA AL011). Previously, the Narta lagoon IBA also included the Karaburun peninsula and Sazan island, but these are now included in site 010.
Key biodiversity
An important site for wintering and migratory waterfowl, especially Pelecanus crispus; 19,663 waterfowl were counted in January 1996, and 81,223 individuals counted in 1997. No waterbird breeding colonies seem to occur around the lagoon (1996). It is considered as a potentially very favourable site for the globally threatened Numenius tenuirostris.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Narta Lagoon (Albania). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/narta-lagoon-iba-albania on 22/12/2024.