River Svartån (869)
Sweden, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Svartåområdet
Central coordinates: Latitude: 59.8732, Longitude: 16.3213
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 57 to 70
Area of KBA (km2): 23.02569
Protected area coverage (%): 98.05
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This area contains three nutrient-rich lakes: Fläcksjön, Gussjön and Gorgen, all connected by the River Svartån and surrounded by low-lying water-meadows prone to spring flooding. Associated vegetation includes areas of Phragmites, Scirpus and wet Betula forest. The land is used for cattle-grazing and is one of the largest areas remaining in Sweden where mowing still takes place.
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 lake margins and adjacent meadows also provide breeding habitat for a number of wetland species. Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Crex crex.
Delineation rationale: Old area: 1870ha Changed due to more accurate information on borders and size. /Robert Ekblom (2007-10-18)
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 33 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 33 | |
| Grassland | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Succession takes place if land is abandoned or left unmanaged. Large areas are now managed through governmental conservation action and funding, with the aim of maintaining and improving conditions for breeding and passage birds. Counts are undertaken regularly. Plans exist to designate five `consultation areas' (totalling 1,535 ha) as Nature Reserves.