Ornkey Mainland Moors (2631)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Orkney Mainland Moors
Central coordinates: Latitude: 59.0533, Longitude: -3.1327
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 25 to 268
Area of KBA (km2): 44.47267
Protected area coverage (%): 99.80
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Three blocks of moorland situated on the Orkney Mainland, cut by numerous dales containing small burns. Human activities include domestic peat extraction. The site is important for breeding raptors and other moorland 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 two separate sites (Orphir and Stenness Hills; West Mainland Moorlands); combined in 1992 into West Mainland Moors; extended in 2000 to include Keelylang and other small areas; 2007 adopted the SPA boundary and changed the name. 2000 area, 7430ha. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | nature conservation and research | not utilised
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 33 | |
| Shrubland | 33 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 33 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Only in the future |