HU011
Sárvíz Valley


Site description (2000 baseline):

Site location and context
A well-drained low-lying flood-plain situated along the Sárvíz canal, between the two loess plateaus of Mezõföld. The IBA includes fish-ponds with fringing reedbeds (Phragmites), and surrounding Populus and Robinia woodlands, pastures and saline lakes. Human activities include grazing, arable farming and reed-harvesting.



Key biodiversity
An important area for wintering geese. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aythya nyroca (18 breeding pairs), Haliaeetus albicilla (3-5 wintering birds).



Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The main threats are inappropriate water management in the fish-ponds, disturbance to birds caused by both hunting and attempts to protect fish stocks, and the burning of reeds Phragmites. Wildfowl shooting on Rétszilas fish-ponds is banned, and management planning is underway.



Protected areas
National Partial International Partial1,496 ha of IBA covered by Nature Conservation Area (Rétszilasi-tavak, 1,496 ha). 3,616 ha of IBA covered by Landscape Protected Area (Sárvíz-völgy, 3,616 ha). 1,496 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Rétszilasi, 1,496 ha).




Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sárvíz Valley (Hungary). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sárvíz-valley-iba-hungary on 23/12/2024.