Eckerö and Hammarland archipelago (1287)
Finland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2025
National site name: Eckerön-Hammarlandin saaristo
Central coordinates: Latitude: 60.4167, Longitude: 19.6333
System: terrestrial, marine
Elevation (m): 0 to 0
Area of KBA (km2): 166.56532
Protected area coverage (%): 48.57
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: An area of both outer and middle archipelago with a large number of islands, situated at the western edge of åland. Most of the islands are bare and almost treeless, but some larger ones hold small patches of forest, swamps, ponds and meadows. Signildskär, one of the largest islands, has the oldest bird observatory in Fennoscandia, founded in 1923. Migration observations have been carried out from the station, but the main activity now is ringing.</P>
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: An important area for island-breeding species, most significantly<I> Alca torda</I> and <I>Cepphus grylle</I>, but also <I>Somateria mollissima</I> (2,000-5,000 pairs), <I>Arenaria interpres</I> (50-100 pairs) and <I>Larus fuscus fuscus</I> (50-100 pairs).</P>
Manageability of the site: Site identified based on BirdLife International's Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, under which manageability is strongly recommended but not explicitly documented
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 60 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 40 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The archipelago has remained in a fairly natural state. The main threats to birds are oil spills (`Other' threat), nutrient pollution from agriculture and fisheries, increased fish-farming and tourism. The area is a candidate SAC.</P>
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: Site identified based on Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by the BirdLife International Partnership