Cepkeliai Strict Nature Reserve (215)
Lithuania, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Cepkeliu raistas
Central coordinates: Latitude: 53.9667, Longitude: 24.5167
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 130 to 150
Area of KBA (km2): 112.25763
Protected area coverage (%): 99.18
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site encompasses the largest raised bog in Lithuania (5,858 ha) with many forest `islands', small lakes and marshes, and surrounded by mostly dry Pinus forests on sand-dunes. The bog is the source of two of the cleanest rivers in the country, the ûla and Katra. There is a very low level of land-use.
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.
Additional biodiversity: A nationally important site for breeding waders (Pluvialis apricaria and Tringa glareola), woodpeckers (Picus canus, P. viridis and Picoides tridactylus) and Grus grus, and the most important site in Lithuania for Gallinago media and for Tetrao tetrix (more than 50 pairs). Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Haliaeetus albicilla, Crex crex.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 71 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 2 | |
| Grassland | 1 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 26 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The reserve is strictly protected and there are no real threats other than the natural colonization of the raised bog by trees, and the event of natural fire. The whole site is covered by the national IBA monitoring network.