Stour and Orwell Estuaries (2605)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Stour and Orwell Estuaries
Central coordinates: Latitude: 51.9567, Longitude: 1.1653
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 15
Area of KBA (km2): 36.83565
Protected area coverage (%): 97.19
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Stour estuary straddles the eastern part of the Essex/Suffolk border and comprises five main bays, whilst the Orwell is a relatively long and narrow estuary. Both estuaries support extensive mudflats and saltmarshes. The IBA supports important numbers of wintering waders and 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; boundary adjusted to that of the SPA in 2007, with additional areas at Barside Bay, and Fox's Marina - Orwell Bridge. 2000 area, 3379ha. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale. Additional area added on 1:50,000 maps. Renamed from Stour and Orwell Estuary 2007.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | nature conservation and research | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 5 | |
| Forest | 5 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 5 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 43 | |
| Marine Neritic | 43 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Marine & freshwater aquaculture | Industrial aquaculture | Only in the future |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Small dams | Only in the future |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Nutrient loads | Ongoing |
| Transportation & service corridors | Shipping lanes | Only in the future | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | War, civil unrest & military exercises | Only in the future | |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Only in the future | |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Ongoing |