Weerribben (1242)
Netherlands, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2016
National site name: Weerribben
Central coordinates: Latitude: 52.7833, Longitude: 5.9167
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): -1 00
Area of KBA (km2): 33.29122
Protected area coverage (%): 99.99
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: An area of ponds and canals (former peat-workings), fens, reedbeds, swampy woodland and wet meadows, located to the west of the city of Steenwijk. The site is situated close to site 063, and lies adjacent to De Wieden (065) with which it formed a single site (the former site NL027) in the previous pan-European IBA inventory (Grimmett and Jones 1989). Human activities include tourism and commercial reed-harvesting (`Other' land-use, below).
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.
Delineation rationale: 3 March 2017: name and area now equal to the designated Special Protection Area (Birds Directive).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (5%) | fisheries/aquaculture (30%) | hunting (60%) | nature conservation and research (90%) | tourism/recreation (32%) | water management (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 33 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 47 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 20 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are posed by commercial reed-harvesting (`Other' threat, above), and by nutrient pollution of wetlands by agricultural and industrial/urban discharges. A compensation scheme is in place for those farmers affected by restrictions on agricultural practices.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of ground water (agricultural use) | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Nutrient loads | Only in the future |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Only in the future | |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing |