Otterswick and Graveland (20798)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Otterswick and Graveland
Central coordinates: Latitude: 60.5543, Longitude: -1.1025
System: terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 22.4304
Protected area coverage (%): 99.81
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Otterswick and Graveland are located on the island of Yell, in Shetland. Otterswick lies to the south of Yell, whilst Graveland is a peninsula on the west coast of the island. Inland areas are dominated by blanket bog, with some stretches of dry heather moorland. The blanket bog is variable in quality, with considerable areas of eroded peat, especially on the eastern side of Otterswick. A band of maritime grassland extends along the coastal stretch of the Graveland peninsula. The site is important for breeding Gavia stellata.
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.
Delineation rationale: First identified in 2007. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 50 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 50 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Only in the future |