Westerschelde & Saeftinghe (1210)
Netherlands, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2016
National site name: Westerschelde & Saeftinghe
Central coordinates: Latitude: 51.3833, Longitude: 3.8333
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): -30 to 3
Area of KBA (km2): 436.72905
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A tidal estuary of the River Schelde with mudflats, sandbanks and raised saltmarsh (Verdronken Land van Saeftinghe, 3,500 ha), and the only estuary in south-west Netherlands which will be allowed to remain open to the sea. The estuary is 60 km long from the Belgian border up to the North Sea, and is adjacent to the Voordelta (020) in the west.
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: An important roost for tens of thousands of geese Anser from Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, but numbers of Anser albifrons in particular have been poorly covered by counts.
Delineation rationale: 9 March 2017: area edited. Now equal to the designated Special Protection Area (Birds Directive).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (5%) | fisheries/aquaculture (50%) | hunting (25%) | nature conservation and research (11%) | tourism/recreation (80%) | urban/industrial/transport (50%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 50 | |
| Marine Neritic | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main problems are the further deepening of the shipping lane (erosion causes loss of mudflats and saltmarsh), nutrient pollution through discharge of polder water, and industrial discharges. The SPA and Ramsar designations concern the saltmarsh area.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic native species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing |