Hanko western archipelago (1299)
Finland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Hangon läntinen saaristo
Central coordinates: Latitude: 59.8167, Longitude: 22.9000
System: marine, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 279.7109
Protected area coverage (%): 86.34
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A diverse site situated in the south-west corner of the Hanko peninsula, comprising cliff-lined shores, sand-dunes, wet meadows and an archipelago of mostly small rocky islands. The IBA falls within Salpausselkä, a glacial ridge formation of southern Finland extending several hundred kilometres in length.
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: One of the most important staging areas for waterbirds in the country, with total numbers exceeding 20,000 individuals. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Polysticta stelleri (27 birds on passage, irregular and for short periods, 5 individuals in winter), Haliaeetus albicilla (4 individuals in winter, 5 on passage), Gallinago media (2 individuals, passage).
Habitats
Land use: tourism/recreation (50%) | urban/industrial/transport (70%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 9 | |
| Marine Neritic | 80 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: An expanding harbour, adjacent to the IBA, is a source of constant disturbance. Pressure from recreation, such as hiking along the shores and boating in the archipelago, also cause disturbance. On the southernmost tip of the Hanko peninsula a bird observatory has been maintained for twenty years, conducting bird ringing and migration observations. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pollution | Domestic & urban waste water | Sewage | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Nutrient loads | Ongoing |
| Transportation & service corridors | Shipping lanes | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |