Karala-Pilguse (288)
Estonia, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2003
National site name: Karala-Pilguse
Central coordinates: Latitude: 58.2500, Longitude: 21.9000
System: marine, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 27.01081
Protected area coverage (%): 97.73
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A complex of shallow (<4 m) sea bays and small islets on the west coast of Saaremaa island, with vast coastal meadows, reedbeds, saltmarshes and shallow lakes. The main economic activities are fishing, and grazing of sheep and cattle.
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 most important staging area for migrating Branta leucopsis in Estonia.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (15%) | fisheries/aquaculture (50%) | forestry (10%) | hunting | nature conservation and research (95%) | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 14 | |
| Shrubland | 9 | |
| Forest | 9 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 2 | |
| Marine Neritic | 51 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 14 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Major threats are posed by unsustainable hunting, tourism, overgrowth of coastal meadows with reed Phragmites as a result of undergrazing, and intensive fishing. A core area of the West Estonian Archipelago Biosphere Reserve is planned within the IBA. Naistekivimaa islet (part of the IBA) overlaps with Vilsandi National Park. Research involves monitoring of migrating waterbirds.