Westkust (698)
Belgium, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Westkust
Central coordinates: Latitude: 51.1333, Longitude: 2.6667
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 23
Area of KBA (km2): 11.15956
Protected area coverage (%): 92.75
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site includes all important dune areas along the western part of the Belgian coast and encompasses the saltmarshes and mudflats of the River IJzer estuary. Habitats range from sand-beaches, shifting dunes, fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation, wet and dry depressions with Lycium barbarum, Salix repens and wooded areas. The site consists of several large zones separated from each other by urbanized areas.
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: This is an important staging site for migrating passerines. The site supports nationally important numbers of migrating and wintering waders. Galerida cristata breeds at the site (20 pairs, which is 20-25% of the Flemish population).
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research (90%) | tourism/recreation (10%) | water management (30%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 25 | |
| Forest | 25 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 25 | |
| Shrubland | 25 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The succession of vegetation within certain dune areas may result in the loss of some habitat-types (`natural event' threat). The entire IBA is designated as a reserve or green area on the physical planning map, and has been protected since 1995 by the `Dune Decree'. A proposed Site of Community Importance covers 1,400 ha of this site (Duingebieden inclusief IJzermonding en Zwin, 2,891 ha). For most of the zones, a management plan exists or is currently being prepared. A nature development project to restore dune areas is underway in the IJzermonding Reserve. Detailed information on all breeding bird species is collected in the framework of a four-year census project, linked to the study of the effects of nature management measures. Migratory birds are regularly counted.