Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2000 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus | LC | passage (1996) | 49 individuals | A1 |
| Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus | LC | winter (1996) | 33–62 individuals | A1 |
| Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga | VU | winter (1996) | 3 individuals | A1 |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2000. The most recent assessment (2013) is shown below.
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2013 | not assessed | high | low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | unset | unknown | |
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | high |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Climate change and severe weather | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | high |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Residential and commercial development | likely in short term (within 4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | medium |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | No management plan exists, but the management planning process has begun | Some limited conservation initiatives are in place | low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Velipoja | Managed Nature Reserve (IV) | 47 |
| 2002 | Shpella e Sukës së Vogël | Nature Monument (Category III IUCN) (III) | - |
| 2002 | Rrëra e Hedhur | Nature Monument (Category III IUCN) (III) | - |
| 2002 | Pylli i ishullit të Franc Jozefit | Nature Monument (Category III IUCN) (III) | - |
| 2005 | Lumi Buna-Velipoje | Park Kombetar (V) | 95 |
| 2005 | Buna river-Velipoja wetland complex | Protected Landscape (-) | 100 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 20 | Broadleaved deciduous woodland |
| Shrubland | 15 | Scrub; Sclerophyllous scrub, garrigue and maquis |
| Artificial/Terrestrial | 10 | Arable land; Forestry plantations |
| Marine Neritic | 10 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | - | |
| Marine Intertidal | - |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| hunting | 60 |
| fisheries/aquaculture | 25 |
| forestry | 20 |
| military | 20 |
| agriculture | 5 |
| tourism/recreation | 5 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Velipoja (Albania). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/velipoja-iba-albania on 24/01/2025.