Porton Down (2577)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Porton Down
Central coordinates: Latitude: 51.1387, Longitude: -1.6607
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 100 to 171
Area of KBA (km2): 22.02605
Protected area coverage (%): 71.46
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Porton Down, to the north-east of Salisbury, is one of the largest uninterrupted tracts of semi-natural chalk grassland in Britain. The IBA supports breeding downland bird species.
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. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale. Additional area added on 1:50,000 maps.
Habitats
Land use: military
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 25 | |
| Shrubland | 25 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 25 | |
| Grassland | 25 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Small-holder plantations | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | War, civil unrest & military exercises | Ongoing | |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing |