Southeast Svalbard Nature Reserve (3201)
Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway), Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2014
National site name: Søraust-Svalbard Naturreservat
Central coordinates: Latitude: 77.7500, Longitude: 22.7500
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 590
Area of KBA (km2): 21815.16609
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Nature Reserve covers the whole of the islands of Barentsøya and Edgeøya, in south-east Svalbard. The habitat is high-Arctic tundra; vegetation is sparse or non-existent over most of the land. Bird data are available for three subsites: Tusenøyane, Negerpynten and Kvalpynten (all on Edgeøya). Tusenøyane (77°05'N 22°00'E; 150,000 ha) is a group of many rocky, low-lying islets (the largest being c.200 ha) in an area of shallow sea, some distance from the south-west coast of Edgeøya. Negerpynten (77°15'N 22°40'E) and Kvalpynten (77°27'N 22°53'E) are sea cliffs at the south-western tip of Edgeøya. There is no settlement in the IBA.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: About 80% of the small and vulnerable Svalbard breeding population of Branta bernicla (B. b. hrota) breeds at Tusenøyane, as well as four other species that are also restricted in Europe (when breeding) to the Arctic/tundra biome. In late summer and autumn Tusenøyane is also a notable moulting area for Somateria mollissima and Somateria spectabilis. There are large seabird colonies at Negerpynten and Kvalpynten (e.g. at least 12,000 pairs of Uria lomvia).
Delineation rationale: Adopted from an official polygon for a protected area.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research (100%) | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 33 | |
| Grassland | 33 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The most serious threat to the birdlife on the islands is an oil spill (there are plans to open the northern Barents Sea to test-drilling for oil and gas). Increased traffic of tourist boats at Tusenøyane may also be a threat, as Branta bernicla (especially) are very shy and suffer increased predation of eggs and young if disturbed. Tusenøyane lies within the Nature Reserve. The goose populations are monitored by the Norwegian Polar Institute.