Soomaa (278)
Estonia, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2003
National site name: Soomaa
Central coordinates: Latitude: 58.4500, Longitude: 25.1167
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 401.20009
Protected area coverage (%): 99.22
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A large complex of raised bogs and extensive forests (including wet alluvial forests) in central Estonia, with fens, transition mires, and unregulated rivers with flood-plain and wooded meadows. The main land-uses are forestry, tourism, small-scale agriculture and berry-picking.
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 mires and forests are important for several breeding species and an important staging area for migrating Cygnus columbianus and Grus grus.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (4%) | forestry (20%) | nature conservation and research (100%) | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 32 | |
| Grassland | 2 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 2 | |
| Shrubland | 24 | |
| Forest | 39 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Major threats are posed by forestry, drainage, unsustainable hunting, tourism, and the overgrowth of flood-plain meadows by shrubs (haymaking is required to maintain habitat suitable for key bird species). The management plan for Soomaa National Park will be ready in 2000. Research involves monitoring of birds and mire plants.