Key Biodiversity Areas

Falaise du Bessin (2187)
France, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Falaise du Bessin
Central coordinates: Latitude: 49.4000, Longitude: -0.9500
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 35
Area of KBA (km2): 23.12029
Protected area coverage (%): 74.72
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: A stretch of rocky coastline and open sea with cliffs, moorland, and arable land.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: The most important site in France for breeding Fulmarus glacialis and Rissa tridactyla.

Habitats


Land use: agriculture | not utilised (90%) | tourism/recreation
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Shrubland20
Marine Neritic40
Marine Coastal/Supratidal20
Artificial - Terrestrial20

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There is considerable pressure from tourism leading to increasing disturbance.