Itäinen Suomenlahti National Park (1308)
Finland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Itäisen Suomenlahden kansallispuisto
Central coordinates: Latitude: 60.3333, Longitude: 27.0000
System: marine, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 933.14361
Protected area coverage (%): 98.79
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A very large area of outer archipelago covering the whole north-east part of the Gulf of Finland. The site comprises extensive areas of open sea scattered with several large and forested islands, and numerous small, rocky islets. There are some remarkable submerged ridges in the area, and, more importantly for the avifauna, extensive spawning areas of the Baltic herring.
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 the largest population of Larus fuscus fuscus in the country, and also is important for other archipelagic species such as Alca torda and Cepphus grylle. During spring migration hundreds of thousands of Arctic ducks stop over within the IBA.
Habitats
Land use: hunting | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 33 | |
| Marine Neritic | 33 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Human impact is high with all-year-round habitation, persistent recreation, shipping, professional fishing and hunting causing slight to serious disturbance to birds. Spring hunting, once an important dietary supplement for local people, but nowadays just a hobby for young men living in coastal villages, probably causes most disturbance. 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 |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |