Artjärvi-Iitti wetlands and fields (1314)
Finland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2025
National site name: Artjärven-Iitin kosteikot ja pellot
Central coordinates: Latitude: 60.7667, Longitude: 26.0833
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 40 to 60
Area of KBA (km2): 30.54808
Protected area coverage (%): 0.00
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A complex of habitats, comprising several eutrophic lakes and other wetlands, shore meadows, and flooded fields, around the settlement of Artjärvi. The lakes are shallow and abundant in vegetation and are surrounded mostly by farmland and settlements. The IBA encompasses a large area of cultivated fields which are ornithologically important when flooded in spring.</P>
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: One of the most important staging areas for <I>Cygnus cygnus</I> in continental Finland. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: <I>Crex crex</I> (max. 4 pairs breeding, 11 birds on passage).</P>
Manageability of the site: Site identified based on BirdLife International's Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, under which manageability is strongly recommended but not explicitly documented
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Human impact is high throughout almost the entire area, which causes some disturbance to the avifauna. However, several activities, such as cattle-grazing and the cultivation of flooded fields, are beneficial to breeding and staging birds. The overgrowth of wetlands in some parts of the site, as a result of insufficient land management, is a threat.</P>
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Small-holder plantations | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: Site identified based on Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by the BirdLife International Partnership