Cape Wrath (2440)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Cape Wrath
Central coordinates: Latitude: 58.6042, Longitude: -4.8842
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 371
Area of KBA (km2): 10.19228
Protected area coverage (%): 98.38
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Two stretches of sandstone cliff on the Cape Wrath headland. The lower slopes are vegetated by Calluna and Juniperus heath. Sheep graze the area, and some deer-stalking takes place. The IBA holds breeding seabirds waterbirds.
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 as Cape Wrath - Aodann Mhor in 1989; renamed in 1992; boundary amended to match SPA in 2007 (no significant change in overall area). SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | hunting | military
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 50 | |
| Shrubland | 50 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human intrusions & disturbance | War, civil unrest & military exercises | Ongoing |