Key Biodiversity Areas

Lovunden (3162)
Norway, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1bA1dD1a
Year of last assessment: 2014
National site name: Lovunden
Central coordinates: Latitude: 66.3500, Longitude: 12.3167
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 623
Area of KBA (km2): 32.2933
Protected area coverage (%): 4.75
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: The island of Lovunden is a steep mountain with scree around the base and numerous islets and skerries offshore. On the north-east side there is a small village where the 300 inhabitants of the island live.
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: Lovunden is most famous for its huge breeding colony of Fratercula arctica, the size of which has, unfortunately, decreased dramatically in recent decades. The colony is occupied between April and mid-September. Haliaeetus albicilla is very common throughout the year: one can often see 8-10 birds at the same time, and 15-20 gathered in one flock is not an uncommon sight in spring or early summer.

Habitats


IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Marine Coastal/Supratidal50
Marine Neritic50