Falcarragh to Min an Chladaigh (678)
Ireland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Falcarragh to Min an Chladaigh
Central coordinates: Latitude: 55.1333, Longitude: -8.1833
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 60
Area of KBA (km2): 12.5405
Protected area coverage (%): 28.68
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This large site follows the coastline from Falcarragh to Min an Chladaigh in north County Donegal. It encompasses a large area inland, much of which is small, extensively managed farms, and it excludes the estuary at Ballyness Bay.
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 site is an important breeding area for Crex crex and is the closest mainland site to Inishbofin (site 013) and, further out to sea, Tory Island (site 012), two islands which together held 20% of the national population of this species in 1996.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The late cutting of hay-meadows is essential to the survival of Crex crex at this site. However, the site is threatened by agricultural intensification, including an increase in silage production which leads to earlier cutting, and loss of hay-meadows for conversion to pasture. BirdWatch Ireland, with support from NPW and RSPB, operates a grant scheme in this area, to try to ensure farming practices that continue to favour Crex crex.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing |