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NL055
Oude Venen
Location Netherlands, Friesland
Central coordinates 5o 55.00' East  53o 7.00' North
IBA criteria A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, C2, C3, C4, C6
Area 2,500 ha
Altitude
Year of IBA assessment 2000

Vogelbescherming Nederland



Ornithological information This is an important roost for geese Anser and waders from surrounding feeding areas. Waterbird numbers quoted are rough estimates.

Site description An area of lakes (resulting partly from peat-diggings), reedbeds, wet meadows and woodland, located south-east of the city of Leeuwarden. Human activities include reed-harvesting (`Other' land-use, below) and natural-gas extraction. This site, together with site 056, formed part of a single, larger site (former site NL023) in the previous pan-European IBA inventory (Grimmett and Jones 1989).

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons winter  1989  30,000 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis winter  1989  10,000 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Gadwall Anas strepera non-breeding  1989  500 individuals  good  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope winter  1989  35,000 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata non-breeding  1989  1,500 individuals  good  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana breeding  1995  8 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa non-breeding  1989  10,000 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Near Threatened 
Ruff Philomachus pugnax non-breeding  1989  25,000 individuals  good  C6  Least Concern 
A4iii Species group - waterbirds non-breeding  1989  -  unknown  A4iii, C4   
A4iii Species group - waterbirds winter  1989  -  unknown  A4iii, C4   

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Alde Feanen Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 2,500 protected area overlaps with site 2,500  
Alde Feanen - NL3000044 Habitats Directive 2,143 protected area contained by site 2,143  
Alde Feanen - NL3009001 Birds Directive 2,123 protected area contained by site 2,123  
Oude Venen Nature Reserve 2,140 protected area contained by site 2,140  
Tuskensleatten Natural Monument 95 protected area contained by site 95  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Alluvial and very wet forest  10%
Wetlands (inland) Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation  40%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Highly improved re-seeded landscapes  50%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 25%
other 5%
fisheries/aquaculture 10%
water management 100%
hunting 17%
nature conservation and research 63%
tourism/recreation 45%

Management considerations Nutrient pollution is a problem (`Other' threat, above). A compensation scheme is in place for those farmers affected by restrictions on agricultural practices.

Protection status National Partial International High95 ha of IBA covered by Natural Monument (Tuskensleatten, 95 ha). 2,140 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Oude Venen, 2,140 ha). 2,500 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Oude Venen, 2,500 ha). 2,500 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Oude Venen, 2,500 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Oude Venen. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife