Holmöarna Archipelago (910)
Sweden, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Holmöarna
Central coordinates: Latitude: 63.7023, Longitude: 20.8937
System: terrestrial, marine
Elevation (m): 0 to 26
Area of KBA (km2): 241.91947
Protected area coverage (%): 99.92
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: An archipelago located 10 km from the Swedish mainland and 15 km from the outer Finnish skerries. The larger islands support <I>Picea</I>, <I>Alnus</I> and <I>Betula</I> forests and areas of bog. Of the four largest islands only the most northerly is inhabited. Access to the southern island is restricted due to military activity.</P>
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The IBA holds a rich breeding bird fauna, including marine species (for example, <I>Melanitta fusca</I>, <I>Stercorarius parasiticus</I> and <I>Cepphus grylle</I>) as well as those of taiga forest (for example, <I>Tetrao urogallus</I>, <I>Grus grus</I> and <I>Strix uralensis</I>). The spring and autumn migration periods see large numbers of seabirds and passerines pass through.</P>
Manageability of the site: Site identified based on BirdLife International's Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, under which manageability is strongly recommended but not explicitly documented
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 12 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 4 | |
| Marine Neritic | 84 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: No serious threats are known at the site. The island of Stora Fjaderagg, north-east of Holmön, holds a bird ringing station. The sea areas east of Holmöarna are known to be of great importance for marine life.</P>
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Only in the future |
Additional information
Contributors: Site identified based on Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by the BirdLife International Partnership