Föglö southern archipelago (1380)
Finland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2025
National site name: Föglön eteläinen saaristo
Central coordinates: Latitude: 59.8667, Longitude: 20.5833
System: terrestrial, marine
Elevation (m): 0 to 0
Area of KBA (km2): 419.25151
Protected area coverage (%): 5.66
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A large area of outer archipelago to the south-east of åland. The archipelago is dominated by groups of small, treeless, steep islands separated from each other by extensive areas of open sea.</P>
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: An important area for many island-breeding species, especially <I>Alca torda</I> but also <I>Somateria mollissima</I> (1,500 pairs) and <I>Larus fuscus fuscus</I>. It is one of the few wintering areas for waterbirds in Finland due to its location on the edge of the Baltic Sea, which normally remains ice-free. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: <I>Polysticta stelleri</I> (1-10 birds, winter), <I>Haliaeetus albicilla</I> (5-10 birds, winter).</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
Delineation rationale: Aholan haahkahavainnot, Fehmarn-haahkapaikannus 2 exx
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There has been very little development on the islands, with the exception of a few summer cottages. The land-owner actively guards the whole area and tries to protect it. The Finnish government has planned to establish a massive shipping channel through the northern part of the area, but this project is currently on hold.</P>
Additional information
Contributors: Site identified based on Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by the BirdLife International Partnership