Muirkirk and North Lowther Uplands (2639)
United Kingdom, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Muirkirk and North Lowther Uplands
Central coordinates: Latitude: 55.4907, Longitude: -4.0830
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 198 to 593
Area of KBA (km2): 263.38421
Protected area coverage (%): 99.87
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site includes the largest remaining continuous block of unforested moorland in south-west Scotland. The main habitats include heather and grass moorland and blanket bog.
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 as two separate IBAs in 2000 (Airds Moss and Muirkirk Uplands; North Lowther Hills); combined in 2007, using only the SPA areas from the two sites. 2000 areas, Airds Moss and Muirkirk Uplands 19800ha, North Lowther Hills 25880ha. SPA boundary used from JNCC; digitised at 1:10,000 scale.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 25 | |
| Grassland | 25 | |
| Shrubland | 25 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 25 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Agro-industry plantations | Only in the future |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Persecution/control | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Only in the future | |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Ongoing |