Inverpolly, Loch Urigill and nearby lochs (2498)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Inverpolly, Loch Urigill and nearby lochs
Central coordinates: Latitude: 58.0758, Longitude: -5.1877
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 20 to 849
Area of KBA (km2): 19.86158
Protected area coverage (%): 99.39
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Inverpolly, Loch Urigill and Nearby Lochs IBA is located in Sutherland and Wester Ross in the Highlands of north-west Scotland. The site includes several large lochans and many smaller lochans, most of which are oligotrophic and contain a submerged flora and restricted fauna typical of nutrient-poor conditions. The lochs form part of the core breeding range of Gavia arctica in the UK.
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 as part of Loch Assynt, Loch Urigill and Nearby Lochs; split out in 1992; amended to match SPA boundary in 2007, dropping the large catchment area. Area in 2000, 27880ha. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | hunting | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 100 |