Key Biodiversity Areas

Castle Loch, Lochmaben (2443)
United Kingdom, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Castle Loch, Lochmaben
Central coordinates: Latitude: 55.1198, Longitude: -3.4297
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 43 to 46
Area of KBA (km2): 1.07655
Protected area coverage (%): 99.15
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: A shallow loch with large stands of emergent Phragmites and Glyceria, surrounded by swamps, Salix scrub, mature woodland and an area of grazed wet grassland at the southern end. The IBA also includes the nearby Hightae Mill Loch. The site is important for wintering geese and other wildfowl.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Delineation rationale: First identified as Castle Loch, Dumfries in 1992; renamed in 2000; boundary changed to match SPA in 2007 (no change in overall area). SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale.

Habitats


Land use: agriculture | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Forest5
Wetlands(Inland)90
Grassland5

Threats


Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
Human intrusions & disturbanceRecreational activitiesOngoing