Outokumpu wetlands (1328)
Finland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2025
National site name: Outokummun lintuvedet
Central coordinates: Latitude: 62.6833, Longitude: 29.1667
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 90 to 90
Area of KBA (km2): 11.31498
Protected area coverage (%): 87.57
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A complex of shallow, nutrient-rich wetlands south of the town of Outokumpu, surrounded mainly by farmland, but also by young deciduous forests which regularly flood. Areas of formerly quite extensive open, muddy marshes are now overgrown by sedge, grasses and <I>Salix</I> bushes. In shallow water, large beds of reed <I>Phragmites</I> are abundant.</P>
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: Nationally important for breeding <I>Botaurus stellaris</I> (7-9 males),<I> Circus aeruginosus </I>(5-6 pairs). In 1984, the first evidence of breeding <I>Tringa stagnatilis</I> in<I> </I>western Europe was found in the area; it has since bred twice.</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 |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 15 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 80 | |
| Unknown | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Overgrowth of the wetland is a threat. The area suffers from intense hunting pressure in autumn, and fishing also causes disturbance in some parts, especially to <I>Cygnus cygnus</I> and <I>Anser fabalis</I>. Excessive nutrient pollution is a serious threat to the whole site; sewage is no longer discharged there, but the inflow of nutrients from surrounding farmland, especially during spring floods, is heavy. Oxygen-generating equipment was installed in Sysmäjärvi lake some years ago to help address this problem. There are several birdwatching towers in the area.</P>
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Dams (size unknown) | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Only in the past and unlikely to return |
Additional information
Contributors: Site identified based on Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by the BirdLife International Partnership