Key Biodiversity Areas

North Ronaldsay Coast (2560)
United Kingdom, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: North Ronaldsay Coast
Central coordinates: Latitude: 59.3667, Longitude: -2.4100
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 5
Area of KBA (km2): 2.13255
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: A low-lying rocky shoreline interspersed with sandy bays, where the seaweeds are grazed by North Ronaldsay sheep.
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; no significant boundary changes since then. Digitised onto 1:50,000 scale OS maps.

Habitats


Land use: agriculture (100%)
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Marine Coastal/Supratidal50
Marine Intertidal50

Threats


Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
Climate change & severe weatherHabitat shifting & alterationOngoing