Kirkkojärvi lake and Lupinlahti bay (1309)
Finland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Kirkkojärvi-Lupinlahti
Central coordinates: Latitude: 60.5667, Longitude: 27.2333
System: marine, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 7.79804
Protected area coverage (%): 88.55
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Kirkkojärvi lake and Lupinlahti Bay are two wetlands adjacent to the town of Hamina. Kirkkojärvi lake, is almost totally covered by vegetation (reed Phragmites, etc.). It was previously heavily polluted by nutrients, and is still prone to silting but is managed by periodically raising the water-level. Lupinlahti Bay is a shallow, 5 km long, narrow bay of the Gulf of Finland, with reedbeds up to 200 m wide. Some parts of the shoreline are rocky, others have meadows and forests, with several houses and summer cottages.
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 is also a nationally important staging area during spring for Cygnus columbianus (100-150 birds). Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Haliaeetus albicilla (1-5 individuals, passage), Crex crex (1 pair, breeding).
Habitats
Land use: hunting | military | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Intensive hunting in autumn and professional net fishing almost all-year-round cause disturbance to birds. There is a birdwatching tower at Kirkkojärvi lake. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing |