Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands (2572)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands
Central coordinates: Latitude: 58.3830, Longitude: -4.0745
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 476
Area of KBA (km2): 1454.24751
Protected area coverage (%): 99.81
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The largest and most intact area of blanket bog in Scotland, lying across Caithness and Sutherland. Human activities include commercial peat extraction. The IBA is of outstanding international importance for breeding divers, waders and raptors. It is also nationally important for breeding wildfowl.
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 The Peatlands of Caithness and Sutherland; renamed in 1992 as The Peatlands; boundary significantly amended to match SPA in 2007, and site renamed. 2000 area, 140570ha. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale.
Habitats
Land use: hunting
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 90 | |
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Grassland | 5 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Agro-industry plantations | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Utility & service lines | Only in the future | |
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Only in the future | |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Only in the future |