Key Biodiversity Areas

Oura and Enskeri archipelagos (1292)
Finland, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Ouran-Enskerin saaristot
Central coordinates: Latitude: 61.7500, Longitude: 21.3333
System: marine, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 96.91995
Protected area coverage (%): 88.48
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: A large archipelago offshore of Merikarvia. The landscape is dominated by large areas of open sea with several groups of numerous scattered islands. The most important part of this site is the large archipelago of Oura, practically unpopulated by man, and encompassing numerous larger, mainly forested islands, and hundreds of small islets and rocks. Iso-Enskeri and Vähä-Enskeri islands hold a remarkable number of Pinus trees in excess of 200 years old.
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 area holds one of the largest populations of Larus fuscus fuscus in Finland. Important populations of several other island-breeding species also occur.

Habitats


IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Marine Neritic50
Forest25
Marine Intertidal25

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Part of the area is a candidate SAC.
Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesInvasive non-native/alien species/diseasesNamed speciesOngoing