Loch of Skene (2516)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Loch of Skene
Central coordinates: Latitude: 57.1578, Longitude: -2.3585
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 75 to 75
Area of KBA (km2): 1.20979
Protected area coverage (%): 99.48
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Situated about 15 km west of Aberdeen, the Loch of Skene is less than 2 m in depth and is fringed by reedbed and Betula-Salix carr. The site is important for large numbers of wintering wildfowl, and is also nationally important for breeding wildfowl. Anser anser are from the Icelandic breeding population.
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; no significant boundary changes since then. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale.
Habitats
Land use: hunting (100%) | tourism/recreation (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 90 | |
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Grassland | 5 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Only in the future |