Kristiinankaupunki southern archipelago (1334)
Finland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2025
National site name: Kristiinankaupungin eteläinen saaristo
Central coordinates: Latitude: 62.0667, Longitude: 21.2667
System: terrestrial, marine
Elevation (m): 0 to 0
Area of KBA (km2): 282.94394
Protected area coverage (%): 11.68
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A large archipelago in the south-east of the Gulf of Bothnia. Most of the islands are small, treeless and rocky, whilst the larger ones support forest, treeless heaths, meadows and sand-dunes. Large heaps of wrack <I>Fucus vesiculosus</I> line the shores, attracting many birds. There are a few fishermen's cottages in the area.</P>
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: An important area for island-breeding birds and a staging area for waterbirds. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: <I>Polysticta stelleri</I> (1-10 birds, passage), <I>Haliaeetus albicilla</I> (max. 5 birds, passage and wintering).</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
Delineation rationale: Marine IBA 2015
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 80 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 20 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Boating and fishing cause minor disturbance. Overgrowth of the wetland is a threat. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.</P>
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: Site identified based on Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by the BirdLife International Partnership