The Cabras Lagoon is one of the largest coastal lagoon systems in Europe and represents the wetland heart of the Sinis Peninsula. Recognised internationally by the Ramsar Convention on the conservation of wetlands, it has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC.
Site data
- Natura 2000 code: ITB030036
- Designation: Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
- Biogeographical region: Mediterranean
- Reference directive: Habitats 92/43/EEC
- Territorial managing body: Municipality of Cabras
Habitats of Community interest
The site hosts several habitats recognised by the Habitats Directive, some of which are classified as priority (marked with an asterisk):
- 1150* Coastal lagoons (priority habitat)
- 1310 Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand
- 1410 Mediterranean salt meadows (Juncetalia maritimi)
- 1420 Mediterranean and thermo-Atlantic halophilous scrubs (Sarcocornetea fruticosi)
- 1510* Mediterranean salt steppes (Limonietalia) — priority habitat
- 92D0 Southern riparian galleries and thickets (Nerio-Tamaricetea and Securinegion tinctoriae)
Key species
The Cabras Lagoon is a biodiversity hotspot, especially for migratory and resident waterbirds:
- Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)
- Black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
- Pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
- Purple swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio)
- Little egret (Egretta garzetta)
- Grey heron (Ardea cinerea)
- Euryhaline fish species: mullets (Mugilidae spp.), European eel (Anguilla anguilla), gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax)
For up-to-date official data and the full Natura 2000 Standard Data Form, see the Natura 2000 Network Viewer (opens in a new window).