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NL066
Oostvaardersplassen
Location Netherlands, Flevoland
Central coordinates 5o 21.00' East  52o 26.00' North
IBA criteria A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, B3, C2, C3, C4, C6
Area 5,600 ha
Altitude
Year of IBA assessment 2000

Vogelbescherming Nederland



Ornithological information The site is the main roost for geese Anser from feeding areas in Flevoland, and is the most important moulting area for Anser anser in north-west Europe.

Site description An extensive area of shallow lakes, pools, reedbeds, Salix woodland and grassland which has developed on a polder (Zuidelijk Flevoland, reclaimed in 1968), having been spared from cultivation. It is situated south of the city of Lelystad, and adjoins Markermeer (038) in the north. This site, together with site 067, formed part of a single, larger site (former site NL031) 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  1991  6,723 individuals  good  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Greylag Goose Anser anser non-breeding  1990  50,375 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis winter  1991  2,911 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, B2, C2  Least Concern 
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus winter  1991  475 individuals  good  B1i, B3, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Gadwall Anas strepera non-breeding  1991  598 individuals  good  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata non-breeding  1991  3,916 individuals  good  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Northern Pintail Anas acuta non-breeding  1991  5,013 individuals  good  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Common Teal Anas crecca non-breeding  1990  52,580 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia breeding  1991  192 breeding pairs  good  A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia non-breeding  1991  582 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris resident  1991  7 breeding pairs  good  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo breeding  1991  6,246 breeding pairs  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo non-breeding  1991  4,247 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus breeding  1991  58 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana breeding  1995  28 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta non-breeding  1990  4,281 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa non-breeding  1990  5,596 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C3  Near Threatened 
Black Tern Chlidonias niger passage  1991  2,336 individuals  good  A4i, B1i, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica breeding  1991  750 breeding pairs  good  C6  Least Concern 
A4iii Species group - waterbirds non-breeding  1990  -  unknown  A4iii, C4   

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Oostvaardersplassen Nature Conservation Law 5,600 protected area contained by site 5,600  
Oostvaardersplassen Nature Reserve 5,600 protected area contained by site 5,600  
Oostvaardersplassen Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 5,600 protected area contained by site 5,600  
Oostvaardersplassen - NL9802054 Birds Directive 5,505 is identical to site 5,505  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Alluvial and very wet forest; Broadleaved deciduous woodland  8%
Wetlands (inland) Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation  69%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Ruderal land  23%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
water management 100%
nature conservation and research 100%

Management considerations The main problems affecting the area are the natural succession of vegetation and the effects of botulism on wild birds (`Other' threat, above). In 1997 the area was reconnected with Lepelaarplassen (067) by a 250-m-wide stretch of marshland.

Protection status National High International High5,600 ha of IBA covered by Natural Monument (Oostvaardersplassen, 5,600 ha). 5,600 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Oostvaardersplassen, 5,600 ha). 5,600 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Oostvaardersplassen, 5,600 ha). 5,600 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Oostvaardersplassen, 5,600 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Oostvaardersplassen. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013

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