South-west London Waterbodies (2600)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: South-west London Waterbodies
Central coordinates: Latitude: 51.4487, Longitude: -0.5102
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 10 to 18
Area of KBA (km2): 18.84846
Protected area coverage (%): 51.53
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: These widely scattered water-bodies on the south-west margins of London are used primarily as water-supply reservoirs. Some are now disused and include flooded gravel-pits and alluvial grassland. The shorelines are fringed with dense Salix scrub, and the river and ditch networks support a diverse aquatic flora. The IBA supports large numbers of wintering wildfowl and other waterbirds.
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 South-west London Reservoirs and Gravel Pits; renamed in 2000 and extended; 2007 various missing parts of the SPA were added. 2000 area, 1830ha. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale. Additional area added on 1:50,000 maps.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 25 | |
| Grassland | 25 | |
| Shrubland | 25 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 25 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | Only in the future |