Key Biodiversity Areas

Tøndermarsken, Magisterkog and Rudbøl Sø (2973)
Denmark, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Tøndermarsken, Magisterkog og Rudbøl Sø
Central coordinates: Latitude: 54.9000, Longitude: 8.7167
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 10
Area of KBA (km2): 65.279
Protected area coverage (%): 99.98
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: A large area of reclaimed land with meadows along the Vidåen river. In the western part a saltwater lagoon is maintained by pumping in seawater. The inner (eastern) parts are mainly agricultural and the outer (western) parts predominantly pasture. There is also some standing freshwater, notably Rudbøl Sø, and reedbeds.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: This is a very important staging area for several waterbirds, with total numbers exceeding 20,000 individuals. Several species listed on Annex I of the EC Birds Directive breed at the site, including Botaurus stellaris, Ciconia ciconia, Circus aeruginosus, Circus pygargus, Porzana porzana, Recurvirostra avosetta, Sterna hirundo, S. paradisaea, S. albifrons, Chlidonias niger (the most important site in Denmark for this species) and Luscinia svevica.

Habitats


Land use: agriculture (85%) | nature conservation and research (15%)
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Artificial - Terrestrial70
Marine Intertidal15
Marine Coastal/Supratidal15

Threats


Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
Agriculture & aquacultureAnnual & perennial non-timber cropsShifting agricultureOngoing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesInvasive non-native/alien species/diseasesNamed speciesOngoing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesProblematic native species/diseasesNamed speciesOngoing
Human intrusions & disturbanceRecreational activitiesOngoing