Current view: Text account
Site description (2002 baseline):
Site location and context
A small freshwater marsh bordered by pine woodland, located in central Portugal, very close to the town of Coimbra, on a tributary of the Mondego river. An important part of a network of small wetlands in the Mondego valley, which includes two other IBAs: Paul do Taipal (009) and Paul de Arzila (010).
The reedbeds are important for two breeding waterbirds, and support large numbers of migratory passerines during autumn migration. Wintering duck numbers regularly exceed 2,000 birds.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
There is not a management plan to nature conservation for this site. Nevertheless about 40% of lands included in the IBA are property of state, with ICN as intermediate.The mains threats are the increase of grass-pine and eutrophication, and others are pollution due to agriculture, illegal hunting and drainage.No serious threats are known in the surrounding zone, which is presently undisturbed by human activities.
National Spetial protection area Paul de Madriz,89 ha overlaps with IBA
International: Special Protection Area IBA also overlaps with Ramsar Site (Paul de Madriz, 226 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Paul de Madriz (Portugal). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/paul-de-madriz-iba-portugal on 27/12/2024.