Key Biodiversity Areas

Glen App and Galloway Moors (20811)
United Kingdom, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Glen App and Galloway Moors
Central coordinates: Latitude: 55.0207, Longitude: -4.9392
System: terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 89.40143
Protected area coverage (%): 99.84
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: Glen App – Galloway Moors is located in south-west Scotland. It comprises a large upland area that extends north from Castle Kennedy, in Dumfries and Galloway, to Ballantrae in South Ayrshire. The area is mainly covered by heather moorland and rough grassland. The moorlands are generally degraded and grassy, and show the consequences of a long history of management for sheep and Lagopus lagopus scoticus. In some areas, agricultural intensification has resulted in the creation of semi-improved grassland, often with an abundance of rushes Juncus spp. The site supports a diverse range of upland birds.
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 HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Shrubland67
Grassland33

Threats


Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
Natural system modificationsFire & fire suppressionIncrease in fire frequency/intensityOngoing
Biological resource useHunting & collecting terrestrial animalsPersecution/controlOngoing
Energy production & miningRenewable energyOnly in the future