Deben Estuary (2453)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Deben Estuary
Central coordinates: Latitude: 52.0423, Longitude: 1.3442
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 15
Area of KBA (km2): 9.80564
Protected area coverage (%): 99.07
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A narrow estuary extending south-eastwards from the town of Woodbridge for a distance of over 12 km, reaching the sea just to the north of the town of Felixstowe. Extensive intertidal mudflats support an important invertebrate communityand wintering wildfowl and waders.
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; no significant changes to boundary since then. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 48 | |
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 48 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Dams (size unknown) | Only in the future |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Nutrient loads | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Ongoing |