Creag Meagaidh (2451)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Creag Meagaidh
Central coordinates: Latitude: 56.9558, Longitude: -4.5905
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 260 to 1130
Area of KBA (km2): 28.70664
Protected area coverage (%): 99.99
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: An outstanding upland site, with uninterrupted vegetation transition from the shores of Loch Laggan to the summit of Creag Meagaidh at over 1,100 m. The site encompasses some massive cliffs, the highest measuring 400 m on Coire Ardair. Grass, heath and flush vegetation occur alongside extensive Betula forest, with typical summit plateau communities at higher elevations. This montane area supports a suite of breeding upland birds.
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, 6986ha. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 20 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 20 | |
| Grassland | 20 | |
| Shrubland | 20 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 20 |