Laajalahti bay, Vanhankaupunginlahti bay and Viikki (1302)
Finland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Laajalahti-Vanhankaupunginlahti-Viikki
Central coordinates: Latitude: 60.2000, Longitude: 24.9333
System: marine, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 12.73641
Protected area coverage (%): 47.12
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site includes two shallow, sea bays, dominated by reed Phragmites, and a largish area of adjacent farmland, situated close to Helsinki. The farmland of Viikki is separated from Vanhankaupunginlahti by a narrow zone of young, wet, deciduous forest and by some older mixed forest.
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: An important breeding and staging area for wetland birds. The site also supports one of the largest national populations of a breeding bird new to Finland, Panurus biarmicus (65 pairs).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (40%) | nature conservation and research (40%) | tourism/recreation (50%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 10 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 60 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 30 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The entire area suffers from considerable human impact. All parts of Viikki are cultivated, and recreational activities, especially hiking and birdwatching, are common. Housing development and road construction plans seriously threaten parts of the area. Water quality has improved in recent years as a result of new and effective sewage treatment. Laajalahti and Vanhankaupunginlahti have several bird-watching towers and wooden trails. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Nutrient loads | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Domestic & urban waste water | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Only in the past and unlikely to return |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Excess energy | Noise pollution | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing |