Ben Alder (2424)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Ben Alder
Central coordinates: Latitude: 56.8160, Longitude: -4.4727
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 367 to 1148
Area of KBA (km2): 28.60719
Protected area coverage (%): 99.95
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Remote summit plateaus with high altitude limestone outcrops, situated between Lochs Ericht and Laggan. The site is geographically and ecologically intermediate between the mountains of the western and eastern Highlands. Highly diverse plant communities are present, including those associated with lengthy snow cover and limestone outcrops. The IBA supports an assemblage of breeding upland species.
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.
Delineation rationale: First identified in 1992; boundary reduced to match SPA in 2007. 2000 area 6548ha. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale.
Habitats
Land use: hunting
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 25 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 25 | |
| Shrubland | 25 | |
| Grassland | 25 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |