Key Biodiversity Areas

Gjesværstappan (3148)
Norway, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1bA1dB1D1a
Year of last assessment: 2014
National site name: Gjesværstappan
Central coordinates: Latitude: 71.1667, Longitude: 25.3333
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 280
Area of KBA (km2): 7.1358
Protected area coverage (%): 99.99
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: Three steep, grass-covered islands: Storstappen, Kjerkestappen and Bukkstappen. Land covers 170 ha of the site, the rest being sea.
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: Cliff-breeding seabirds nest mainly on Storstappen.
Delineation rationale: Adopted from an official polygon for a Protected Area.

Habitats


Land use: nature conservation and research
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Marine Coastal/Supratidal12
Grassland12
Marine Neritic76

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Planned oil production in the Barents Sea may have a negative impact on coastal and marine birds.