Key Biodiversity Areas

Lithuanian part of the Curonian Spit (226)
Lithuania, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Kursiu nerija (Lietuvai priklausanti Kursiu Nerijos dalis)
Central coordinates: Latitude: 55.5000, Longitude: 21.1000
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 5 to 53
Area of KBA (km2): 267.23895
Protected area coverage (%): 99.27
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: A narrow sand-spit covered with Pinus woodland, located between the Kuronian lagoon and the Baltic Sea. Most of the area is used for recreation, and some for forestry. There are few villages.
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: Storks, birds of prey and passerines migrate through the area in large numbers, although no exact counts have been made.

Habitats


Land use: forestry | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Marine Coastal/Supratidal8
Forest61
Shrubland20
Artificial - Terrestrial3
Marine Intertidal8

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There is a management plan for the National Park, which includes components on nature conservation and visitor management.