De Maatjes, Wuustwezel Heide en Groot Schietveld (706)
Belgium, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: De Maatjes, Wuustwezel Heide en Groot Schietveld
Central coordinates: Latitude: 51.3833, Longitude: 4.5667
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 15 to 30
Area of KBA (km2): 41.08966
Protected area coverage (%): 95.98
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site includes arable land, grasslands and marshes (De Maatjes), and heaths and mire habitats in military camps (Groot en Klein Schietveld).
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: An important breeding area for meadow and heathland species, e.g. Limosa limosa (10-20 pairs). It is also a nationally important staging site for migrating passerines, waders, gulls and raptors. The meadows are an important feeding site for the up to 350 Larus melanocephalus and up to 600 Numenius phaeopus.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (40%) | forestry (10%) | military (40%) | nature conservation and research (10%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 5 | |
| Forest | 5 | |
| Shrubland | 25 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 40 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 20 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: About 10% of the site is designated as a green area on the physical planning map. 1,770 ha of IBA covered by proposed Site of Community Importance (Klein- en Groot Schietveld, 2,042 ha).