Key Biodiversity Areas

Saltholm (3019)
Denmark, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Saltholm og Peberholm
Central coordinates: Latitude: 55.6667, Longitude: 12.8333
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 5
Area of KBA (km2): 72.52056
Protected area coverage (%): 99.98
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: A large flat uncultivated island with saltmarshes surrounded by shallow sea with stony shoals, banks and mudflats; includes the largest area of saltmarsh in Denmark outside Jylland.
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: This is an important wintering site for Cygnus olor and breeding ground for gulls and terns. Several species listed on Annex I of the EC Birds Directive, breed at the site including Branta leucopsis, Recurvirostra avosetta, Philomachus pugnax, Sterna sandvicensis, S. hirundo, S. paradisaea and S. albifrons.

Habitats


Land use: agriculture (25%)
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Marine Intertidal19
Marine Neritic71
Grassland10

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Entry is prohibited to most of the site during the breeding season, and to some areas throughout the year.