West Donegal coast (675)
Ireland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: West Donegal coast
Central coordinates: Latitude: 54.7167, Longitude: -8.8000
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 300
Area of KBA (km2): 96.98691
Protected area coverage (%): 67.65
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: An extended coastal site in County Donegal, which covers the mainland coastline from Bloody Foreland in the north to Muckross Head in the south, and also includes the western edge of Aranmore Island. A number of other IBAs occur within this area but are treated separately. Information on land-use and threats is incomplete.
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: This area is important for Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, and good numbers of breeding seabirds and wintering geese also occur.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (65%) | not utilised (35%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 50 | |
| Shrubland | 15 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 35 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: For the survival of Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax at this site, it is vital that low-intensity farming along the cliff-tops is maintained. The site overlaps with three proposed candidate Special Areas for Conservation (Slieve League; Slieve Tooey/Tormore Island/Loughros Beg Bay; West of Ardara/Maas road; areas not known).