Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
This recently designated Natural Park includes a stretch of the lower Guadiana valley and the surrounding areas, close to the south-east border of Portugal. The valley is steep, with cliffs and sclerophyllous scrub. In the remaining areas there are mainly steppic habitats, non-intensive cereal fields and scrub.
An important area for breeding raptors, especially cliff-nesting species, but with good numbers of some birds of steppic habitats and of wetlands as well. Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site:
Circaetus gallicus (1-5 pairs).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Ongoing abandonment of agriculture will lead to an increase in the extent of scrub and a reduction in extent of steppic habitats, reducing densities of open-country bird species. There are plans to build a dam downriver, which will partially flood the area, and another large reservoir is planned upstream, which will affect water-flow through the site.
National High
International Partial69,733 ha of IBA covered by Natural Park (Guadiana, 69,733 ha). IBA overlaps with Special Protection Area.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: River Guadiana (Portugal). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/river-guadiana-iba-portugal on 22/12/2024.
