Key Biodiversity Areas

Hollands Diep (1203)
Netherlands, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2016
National site name: Hollands Diep
Central coordinates: Latitude: 51.7000, Longitude: 4.5000
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): -20 to -1
Area of KBA (km2): 41.39553
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: A stagnant 17-km long freshwater lake, located between Haringvliet (024) and Biesbosch (051), bordered by reedbeds and grassland polders. The water-level varies, depending on the river supply. This site, together with site 024, formed part of a single, larger site (former site NL047) in the previous international IBA inventory (Grimmett and Jones 1989).
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: The site is especially important for roosting geese from surrounding feeding areas, although there have been few counts of numbers. The average seasonal peak number of waterbirds during 1992-1996 exceeded 20,000.
Delineation rationale: 9 March 2017: area edited. Now equal to the designated Special Protection Area (Birds Directive).

Habitats


Land use: agriculture (5%) | fisheries/aquaculture (80%) | hunting (30%) | nature conservation and research (8%) | tourism/recreation (90%) | urban/industrial/transport (10%) | water management (100%)
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Artificial - Terrestrial10
Wetlands(Inland)90

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main problems are heavily polluted sediments and nutrient pollution.
Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
Agriculture & aquacultureAnnual & perennial non-timber cropsShifting agricultureOngoing
PollutionDomestic & urban waste waterRun-offOngoing
Energy production & miningRenewable energyOngoing
Human intrusions & disturbanceRecreational activitiesOnly in the future
Residential & commercial developmentTourism & recreation areasOnly in the future
Transportation & service corridorsFlight pathsOngoing
Climate change & severe weatherHabitat shifting & alterationOngoing