Lake Östen (864)
Sweden, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Östen
Central coordinates: Latitude: 58.5667, Longitude: 13.9000
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 66 to 70
Area of KBA (km2): 10.37578
Protected area coverage (%): 99.99
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A shallow, nutrient-rich lake situated in a generally flat landscape, except for a few higher areas that are covered by coniferous forest. The lake was lowered three times by drainage projects in the nineteenth century and the reclaimed land, now grazed water-meadows, forms an important wader habitat. The rapid water exchange in the lake means that the period of ice-cover is quite short. Livestock-grazing is the main land-use.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: The site is important as a stop-over site for passage waterbirds and waders. Passage species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Anser erythropus, Crex crex and Gallinago media.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 5 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 85 | |
| Forest | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Habitat deterioration has occurred, and the site is slowly reverting to marsh. An unfavourable water regime is assisting the successional process, and drainage, dredging and reclamation projects are ongoing. Breeding wetland birds have almost disappeared. Management agreements exist between the National Environmental Board and land-owners.