Somerset Levels and Moors (2595)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Somerset Levels and Moors
Central coordinates: Latitude: 51.1980, Longitude: -2.8405
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 3 to 14
Area of KBA (km2): 70.84797
Protected area coverage (%): 99.92
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Levels and Moors have formed in the valleys of five rivers, which drain a large part of north Somerset. The whole area is low-lying, and the naturally poor drainage has encouraged peat build-up. Habitat-types include wet grassland, fen and raised bog. The IBA is important for breeding and wintering wildfowl and other wetland birds.
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; missing parts of SPA and Ham Wall added in 2007. 2000 area, 6390ha. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale. Additional area added on 1:50,000 maps.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 20 | |
| Grassland | 20 | |
| Forest | 20 | |
| Shrubland | 20 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 20 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Nutrient loads | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Only in the future | |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Ongoing |