Coastal area (including seaside meadows) of Eastern Öland (853)
Sweden, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Östra Ölands kust och strandängar
Central coordinates: Latitude: 56.6583, Longitude: 16.7322
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 5
Area of KBA (km2): 300.82106
Protected area coverage (%): 40.78
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: öland is a long, narrow island close to the south-east coast of mainland Sweden. These three distinct sites are located on the low-lying east coast of öland along a major migration route for birds moving to/from north-east Scandinavia and north-west Russia. The main habitat consists of grazed coastal meadows with marshy areas and scrub. The shores comprise sand beaches or low chalk cliffs and the shallow offshore waters contain many sandbanks. Apart from grazing, arable farming is the only significant land-use.
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 coastal meadows support a rich breeding bird fauna, and are used by thousands of wildfowl and waders as a stop-over site whilst on passage. The passerine migration is also of great importance.
Delineation rationale: Old area: 10190ha Changed due to more accurate information on borders and size. /Robert Ekblom (2007-10-24)
Habitats
Land use: agriculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 20 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 20 | |
| Grassland | 20 | |
| Marine Neritic | 20 | |
| Shrubland | 20 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The number of grazing animals (mainly cows) is decreasing, and as a result vegetation succession is causing the grasslands to become less important for birds. The local government supports grazing in selected areas of high importance. All coastal meadows were mapped during the 1988 and 1998 breeding seasons, with preliminary results showing decreases in numbers of Limosa limosa, Tringa totanus and other breeding waders. Migrating birds are counted during the autumn.