Øvre Pasvik (3139)
Norway, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2014
National site name: Øvre Pasvik
Central coordinates: Latitude: 69.0833, Longitude: 29.0000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 338
Area of KBA (km2): 453.88085
Protected area coverage (%): 42.34
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This is the largest virgin forest in Norway, close to the border with Russia and Finland. The landscape is flat, with some ridges, and is covered by boreal coniferous forest (this being the westernmost limit of the Siberian taiga) and mires, with numerous fish-rich lakes.
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: Breeding species include at least 10 of the 15 species in Europe that are restricted to the boreal biome (when breeding)˜an eleventh such species, Emberiza rustica, may also breed irregularly˜as well as a wide variety of wildfowl and waders, and Haliaeetus albicilla (a species of global conservation concern which, however, does not meet IBA criteria).
Delineation rationale: Delineation largely follows the land frontiers between Norway and Russia and between Norway and Finland.
Habitats
Land use: forestry (20%) | hunting | military (10%) | nature conservation and research (10%) | tourism/recreation (10%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 80 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 20 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There is some logging and re-afforestation. Plans for a road in the area, cutting through the Pasvik valley to Finland, are currently shelved. Two administratively-protected forest areas (state-owned) lie within the IBA. Plans to extend the National Park exist. The Nature Reserve is adjacent to the Pasvik Zapovednik across the border in Russia, and the Norwegian and Russian authorities have cooperated in planning these protected areas.