Key Biodiversity Areas

New Forest (2617)
United Kingdom, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: New Forest
Central coordinates: Latitude: 50.8528, Longitude: -1.6105
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 2 to 127
Area of KBA (km2): 280.23904
Protected area coverage (%): 99.82
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: A large expanse of enclosed woodland, both ancient and more recent, with open areas of heathland, and broken by numerous valleys and mires. The forest supports a rich lichen, fern, moss and liverwort flora.
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 The New Forest; renamed in 2007. 2000 area incorrectly assigned as 41410ha. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale.

Habitats


Land use: agriculture | forestry | tourism/recreation
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Artificial - Terrestrial20
Shrubland20
Wetlands(Inland)20
Forest20
Grassland20

Threats


Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
Natural system modificationsDams & water management/useAbstraction of ground water (agricultural use)Ongoing
Agriculture & aquacultureWood & pulp plantationsSmall-holder plantationsOngoing
Agriculture & aquacultureLivestock farming & ranchingSmall-holder grazing, ranching or farmingOngoing
Residential & commercial developmentTourism & recreation areasOngoing
Natural system modificationsOther ecosystem modificationsOngoing
Human intrusions & disturbanceRecreational activitiesOngoing