Puhatu mire (293)
Estonia, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2003
National site name: Puhatu soo
Central coordinates: Latitude: 59.1500, Longitude: 27.7333
System: terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 132.49819
Protected area coverage (%): 96.52
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A large complex of raised bogs, fens, transition mires, forests, lakes and rivers in north-eastern Estonia. The main land-use is forestry.
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: An important breeding area for Tetrao tetrix which also supports a notably diverse assemblage of other breeding species of mire and forest. Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Haliaeetus albicilla (one pair), Crex crex (1-5 pairs). Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Grus grus (10 pairs).
Habitats
Land use: forestry (10%) | nature conservation and research (96%) | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 31 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 27 | |
| Forest | 42 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are drainage, deforestation, intensification of forestry, and tourism. There are plans to mine oil-shale in the northern part of the IBA. The IBA is a potential Ramsar Site. An inventory of the avifauna was completed in 1996.