Sumburgh Head (2608)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Sumburgh Head
Central coordinates: Latitude: 59.8647, Longitude: -1.2733
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 80
Area of KBA (km2): 0.38318
Protected area coverage (%): 99.34
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA comprises boulder-strewn beaches and cliffs along the east side of Sumburgh Head, the most southerly tip of the Shetland mainland. The site is important for its colonies of breeding seabirds.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Delineation rationale: First identified in 1989; no significant boundary changes since then. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (80%) | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 10 | |
| Grassland | 80 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 10 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Ongoing |