Drumochter Hills (2457)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Drumochter Hills
Central coordinates: Latitude: 56.8722, Longitude: -4.2212
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 366 to 1010
Area of KBA (km2): 94.48071
Protected area coverage (%): 99.94
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site includes the rounded summits on either side of the Drumochter pass, and several plateaus, which are divided by steep-sided stream gullies. Montane communities present include grassland, high altitude blanket mires and lichen-rich heaths. This area supports a range of birds associated with montane plateaus and open moorland.
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 1989; boundary reduced to match SPA in 2007. 2000 area, 9445ha. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (50%) | hunting (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 20 | |
| Shrubland | 20 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 20 | |
| Grassland | 20 | |
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 20 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Only in the future |