Langara Island (11044)
Canada, North America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2008
National site name: Langara Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: 54.2308, Longitude: -133.0013
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 150
Area of KBA (km2): 260.92405
Protected area coverage (%): 69.83
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Langara Island is located at the northwest corner of Graham Island, the largest of the Queen Charlottes. The shoreline of the 3,105 ha island is dominated by sitka spruce. As one proceeds in from the sea, the forest composition shifts to western hemlock and then to predominately western red cedar. In the interior of the island there are areas of open sphagnum bog.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: Langara Island supports globally significant numbers of Ancient Murrelets, a species which is listed as nationally vulnerable. Approximately 29,000 birds, or 2% of the global population, are present during breeding season. Of 26 individual islands with confirmed nesting records of Ancient Murrelets in British Columbia (the only area in Canada where this species occurs), Langara supports the fifth largest colony. As well as Ancient Murrelets, Langara Island also supports nationally significant numbers of Pigeon Guillemots (187; approximately 1.8%) and large numbers of Pelagic Cormorants (104). Several pairs of Peregrine Falcons (ssp. pealei) are also present, a species that is listed as nationally vulnerable. The marine waters surrounding the island are important staging areas for the breeding seabirds. In addition, an important marine feeding habitat for nationally significant numbers of the threatened Marbled Murrelet occurs from Parry Passage to Pillar Bay along the south shore of Langara island and the adjacent north coast of Graham Island.
Delineation rationale: suitable for the seaward extension approach to marine IBAs
Habitats
Land use: not utilised
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 50 | |
| Forest | 50 |