Skúmsstadavatn (489)
Iceland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Skúmsstaðavatn
Central coordinates: Latitude: 63.6667, Longitude: -20.5000
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 10 to 10
0KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A shallow freshwater lake, pools and extensive marshes/mires of sedge (Carex, Eriophorum), 14 km south of the town of Hella in southern Iceland. Grazing in the marshes is considerable.
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: The lake is important for staging waterbirds. Breeding birds include Gavia stellata, Cygnus cygnus, Anas acuta and several other duck species, Limosa limosa and Numenius phaeopus.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | hunting
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Drainage is a major threat to this wetland, and has severely affected the lake. Excessive horse-grazing is also a threat. The effects on birds of disturbance caused by shooting are not known. The area is on the list of sites of conservation interest in the Nature Conservation Register.