Ythan Estuary, Sands of Forvie and Meikle Loch (2638)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Ythan Estuary, Sands of Forvie and Meikle Loch
Central coordinates: Latitude: 57.3328, Longitude: -1.9792
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 62
Area of KBA (km2): 10.16972
Protected area coverage (%): 99.09
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The long, narrow estuary of the River Ythan runs in a north-south direction, entering the sea 18 km north of Aberdeen. Large tracts of sand-dunes exist either side of the river mouth, which comprises extensive mud and gravel flats. The Sands of Forvie sand-dune system contains a complete range of dune types and supports lichen-rich heath. The IBA is important for breeding seabirds and wintering waterbirds, including an important goose roost at Meikle Loch.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
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: fisheries/aquaculture (15%) | nature conservation and research (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 14 | |
| Shrubland | 58 | |
| Marine Neritic | 14 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 14 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |