Elimyssalo (1355)
Finland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2025
National site name: Elimyssalo
Central coordinates: Latitude: 64.1833, Longitude: 30.4000
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 250 to 290
Area of KBA (km2): 82.87451
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A large wilderness of boreal forests and mires east of Kuhmo and adjacent to the Russian border. The main features are numerous hills with old coniferous and mixed forest, large mire complexes and riverside forests. A sizeable part of all `old' forests (more than 150 years) remaining in the Kainuu region exist here, and forests aged over 200 years are not uncommon.</P>
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: An important breeding area for boreal avifauna. Breeding birds include 13 out of the 15 species in Europe that are restricted to the boreal biome (when breeding). The only known regular breeding area of <I>Milvus migrans</I> (1-5 pairs) in the country.</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
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 48 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 52 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area is a candidate SAC.</P>
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Only in the past and unlikely to return |
Additional information
Contributors: Site identified based on Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by the BirdLife International Partnership