Skjern Å (3024)
Denmark, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Skjern Å-dalen
Central coordinates: Latitude: 56.9333, Longitude: 8.5000
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1 to 4
Area of KBA (km2): 52.07283
Protected area coverage (%): 57.80
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A large river valley with meadows, marshes, moorland and cultivated areas. The Skjern å river has been canalized and has the highest rate of flow of any in Denmark.
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 staging area for Cygnus columbianus. No quantitative data are available and recent data are incomplete. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Crex crex (breeding).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (90%) | water management (10%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 29 | |
| Grassland | 29 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 29 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 14 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: An important extensive restoration project is underway which includes `re-meandering' the lower part of the river. It is hoped that the project will help restore the former importance of the site for scarce breeding birds such as Crex crex. Several of the side rivers have been severely polluted by ochre as a result of extensive drainage schemes.