Loch Leven (2510)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Loch Leven
Central coordinates: Latitude: 56.1938, Longitude: -3.3728
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 113 to 335
Area of KBA (km2): 18.49537
Protected area coverage (%): 97.40
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Loch Leven lies midway between the estuaries of the Forth and Tay rivers, and is the largest nutrient-rich loch in Britain, supporting a range of aquatic plants. The IBA also covers adjacent damp, unimproved pasture. This site is of major importance for both breeding and wintering wildfowl and waterfowl.
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; extended in 2000 to include Vane Farm; no significant boundary changes since then. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale. Additional area added on 1:50,000 maps.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 33 | |
| Grassland | 33 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 33 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Dams (size unknown) | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Only in the future | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Only in the future |