Luitemaa (276)
Estonia, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2003
National site name: Luitemaa
Central coordinates: Latitude: 58.1500, Longitude: 24.5667
System: marine, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 130.32357
Protected area coverage (%): 97.91
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A complex of shallow sea (<2 m) and small islets, with vast reedbeds and coastal meadows on the south-western coast of Estonia. The main economic activities are fishing (intensive), grazing and hunting.
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.
Additional biodiversity: The area is an important staging site (in spring) for migrating Cygnus columbianus and Branta leucopsis. The avifauna is diverse, with 185 species recorded, of which 65 have been recorded breeding. Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Crex crex (min. 5 pairs). Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Limosa limosa (min. 10 pairs).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (20%) | fisheries/aquaculture (15%) | forestry (10%) | hunting | nature conservation and research (100%) | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 19 | |
| Forest | 31 | |
| Marine Neritic | 19 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 17 | |
| Grassland | 4 | |
| Shrubland | 10 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are caused by human disturbance of birds, tourism, unsustainable hunting, fishing, and overgrowth of coastal meadows with reed Phragmites due to undergrazing. Häädemeeste coastal meadow is a potential Ramsar Site. Research involves monitoring of birds.