Lake Kvismaren (866)
Sweden, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Kvismaren
Central coordinates: Latitude: 59.1765, Longitude: 15.3958
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 22 to 30
Area of KBA (km2): 22.70802
Protected area coverage (%): 41.09
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Kvismaren is a flat fertile agricultural valley. Extensive marshy areas originally surrounded two lakes, but following drainage in the 1880s the lakes disappeared. They have now been replaced by extensive reedbeds (Phragmites) and Salix thickets surrounded by marshy meadows, low-lying pasture and arable land, and densely wooded areas. The main wetland is enclosed by embankments and canals to protect nearby arable land from flooding. Three areas of open water, covering c.230 ha, have recently been restored as shallow lakes or water-meadows. The IBA contains an important ornithological station.
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 for breeding species of wetland and wet grassland habitats, as well as for passage wildfowl and waders. Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Crex crex.
Delineation rationale: old area: 800ha Changed due to more accurate information on borders and size. /Robert Ekblom (2007-10-22)
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | hunting (5%) | nature conservation and research (85%) | not utilised (10%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 18 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 64 | |
| Shrubland | 9 | |
| Forest | 9 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Increasing numbers of Anser fabalis and Grus grus have led to conflict with farmers (`Other' threat). A programme has been undertaken both to alleviate this problem and to compensate farmers for crop losses. Continued restoration of the western part of the IBA is expected to begin soon.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Shifting agriculture | Ongoing |