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close| Location | Finland, Oulun lääni |
| Central coordinates | 23o 36.00' East 64o 11.00' North |
| IBA criteria | B1i, B2, B3, C3 |
| Area | 11,673 ha |
| Altitude | 3 m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information An important breeding area for archipelagic avifauna.
Site description Lying in the north-east of the Gulf of Bothnia, this is one of the largest and most diverse archipelagos in the Bay of Bothnia. The area holds a remarkable diversity of habitats including the Siipojoki river delta, large forested islands, islands with meadows and beaches, and numerous outer rocky islands and islets. The area has remained largely undeveloped, and much of the shoreline is in a natural state.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator | breeding | 1992 | 101-500 breeding pairs | medium | B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Common Redshank Tringa totanus | breeding | 1992 | 101-500 breeding pairs | poor | B1i, B2, C3 | Least Concern |
| Mew Gull Larus canus | breeding | 1992 | 501-1,000 breeding pairs | medium | B2 | Least Concern |
| Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus | breeding | 1997 | 160-170 breeding pairs | good | B3 | Least Concern |
| Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle | breeding | 1997 | 110 breeding pairs | medium | B2 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rahjan saaristo - FI1000005 | Birds Directive | 8,381 | protected area contained by site | 8,381 |
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | Mixed woodland; Native coniferous woodland | 30% |
| Sea | Sea inlets and coastal features | 30% |
| Coastline | Sea cliffs and rocky shores | 40% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| forestry | 10% |
| hunting | 40% |
| tourism/recreation | 60% |
Management considerations Part of the area is a candidate SAC.
Protection status National None International Partial8,555 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Rahjan saaristo).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Rahja archipelago. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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