Key Biodiversity Areas

Copeland Islands (20839)
United Kingdom, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Copeland Islands
Central coordinates: Latitude: 54.6747, Longitude: -5.5330
System: marine, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 1.54318
Protected area coverage (%): 98.89
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: Copeland Islands IBA is located off the County Down coast of Northern Ireland and comprises Big Copeland, Light House Island and Mew Island. The site is important for breeding seabirds and waders, in addition to their coastal plant communities and geological features.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Delineation rationale: First identified as a separate site in 2007, although partly covered by Outer Ards marine component in 2000. Boundary digitised from 1:50,000 OS maps.

Habitats


IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Marine Coastal/Supratidal100

Threats


Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
Biological resource useHunting & collecting terrestrial animalsIntentional use (species being assessed is the target)Ongoing