Nemunas delta regional Park (213)
Lithuania, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, A1d, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Nemuno delta
Central coordinates: Latitude: 55.3000, Longitude: 21.3833
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 20
Area of KBA (km2): 289.96889
Protected area coverage (%): 99.48
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Flood-meadows, reedbeds, rivers, lakes and forests in the Nemunas delta. Most of the IBA is protected, with the remainder being used for haymaking, pasture and cultivation. Krokø Lanka lake (55°25'N 21°24'E) is used for fishing.
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.
Additional biodiversity: The most important bird area in Lithuania. Very large numbers of waterbirds congregate at the site on passage (autumn and spring) and during the moulting season, including Cygnus columbianus, Anser fabalis, A. albifrons, A. anser, Aythya fuligula and Mergus albellus. A very rich and diverse assemblage of wetland, meadow and forest species breed (often in large numbers), including four breeding species of global conservation concern and numerous waterbirds and raptors. Large populations of gulls and terns also breed at the site, and include Larus minutus, Sterna albifrons and Chlidonias niger. The large colonies of Larus ridibundus disappeared in the 1980s.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (14%) | forestry | nature conservation and research (100%) | rangeland/pastureland (31%) | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 14 | |
| Grassland | 31 | |
| Forest | 21 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 11 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 11 | |
| Marine Neritic | 11 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Haymaking has been abandoned on many meadows, although these currently still provide good habitat for migratory waterbirds and breeding waders. Krokø Lanka lake and adjoining meadows are covered by the national IBA monitoring network. A management plan is currently being prepared with the support of the Worldwide Fund for Nature and Euronatur.