Thames Basin Heaths (2614)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Thames Basin Heaths
Central coordinates: Latitude: 51.3680, Longitude: -0.7422
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 60 to 140
Area of KBA (km2): 110.68261
Protected area coverage (%): 84.01
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA contains several widely separated fragments of what was once an almost continuous block of heathland in the Thames basin. It includes much of the remaining heathland and mire in Surrey, north-east Hampshire and south Berkshire. The habitat mosaics comprise acidic grassland and heathland, and areas of invasive Ulex, Betula, Quercus and Pinus sylvestris. The IBA holds important breeding populations of specialist heathland 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 as Chobham to Yateley Commons; renamed to Thames Basin Heathlands in 2000, with extensions added; missing SPA areas added in 2007, and name amended to Thames Basin Heaths. 2000 area, 9150ha. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale. Additional area added on 1:50,000 maps.
Habitats
Land use: forestry | military | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 20 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 20 | |
| Grassland | 20 | |
| Shrubland | 20 | |
| Forest | 20 |
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 | Agro-industry plantations | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | War, civil unrest & military exercises | Ongoing | |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing |