Islands and waters south and west of Upernavik town (3291)
Greenland (to Denmark), Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Islands and waters south and west of Upernavik town
Central coordinates: Latitude: 72.6667, Longitude: -56.2500
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 150
Area of KBA (km2): 246.44897
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site comprises archipelagoes, small islands and stretches of steep coastline that support several seabird colonies, located between 72°36'N and 72°48'N. This area includes six sites that were treated as separate IBAs in the previous international IBA inventory (Grimmett and Jones 1989): Sanderson's Hope (Upernavik Apparsuit), island of Qaersorssuaq (former site GL039), Appatsiaat, island of Qaersorssuaq (former site GL040), Kingittoq Apparsuit, island of Qaersorssuaq (former site GL041), Avannarleq (Nordø) (former site GL048), Aarrussaq (Hvalø) (former site GL049) and Timmiakulussuit, island of Nutaarmiut (former site GL055).
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: The site also holds breeding Fulmarus glacialis (>5,000 pairs) and Rissa tridactyla (3,229 pairs at four colonies) (1994 data). All four Uria lomvia colonies are decreasing in size (80-90% reduction in size since 1930)˜the largest held 7,000 individuals in 1994.
Habitats
Land use: not utilised (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 50 | |
| Marine Neritic | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The effects of hunting and associated disturbance pose a major threat. Helicopter flights close to Uria lomvia colonies also cause disturbance.