Hermaness, Saxa Vord and Valla Field (2490)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, A1d, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Hermaness, Saxa Vord and Valla Field
Central coordinates: Latitude: 60.8165, Longitude: -0.8892
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 280
Area of KBA (km2): 31.02895
Protected area coverage (%): 63.84
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA is situated at the most northern tip of Britain, and comprises heathland, small nutrient-poor lochans and burns, and sea cliffs. Closely grazed species-rich maritime grassland occurs on the cliff-tops, with blanket bog and acid grassland vegetation communities also present. The site is important for breeding seabirds, divers, skuas and waders.
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 in 1989 as Hermaness and Saxa Vord, Unst; missing parts of SPA added in 2007, and changed to current name. 2000 area, 2654ha. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale. Additional area added on 1:50,000 maps.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 25 | |
| Shrubland | 25 | |
| Grassland | 25 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 25 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Ongoing |