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 ('triggering') IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus | LC | passage (1996) | 49 birds | A1 |
| Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus | LC | winter (1996) | 33–62 birds | A1 |
| Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga | VU | winter (1996) | 3 birds | 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 assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Climate change and severe weather | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Residential and commercial development | likely in short term (<4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Whole area (>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 | Rrëra e Hedhur | Nature Monument (Category III IUCN) (III) | - |
| 2002 | Pylli i ishullit të Franc Jozefit | Nature Monument (Category III IUCN) (III) | - |
| 2002 | Shpella e Sukës së Vogël | 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 (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Velipoja (Albania). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/velipoja-iba-albania on 26/12/2024.