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FI018
Runkaus-Saariaapa-Tainijärvet
Location Finland, Lapin lääni
Central coordinates 25o 40.00' East  66o 3.00' North
IBA criteria A3, B2, B3, C6
Area 13,904 ha
Altitude 110 m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

BirdLife SUOMI-FINLAND



Ornithological information An important area for boreal avifauna. Breeding birds include 11 out of the 15 species in Europe that are restricted to the boreal biome (when breeding).

Site description A diverse complex of aapa mires and boreal forests with numerous lakes and ponds, located south of the lower course of the Kemi river. The forests are typically 150 years old and Pinus-sylvestris-dominated, with scattered very large aspens Populus tremula.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Smew Mergellus albellus breeding  1995  6-10 breeding pairs  medium  A3, B2  Least Concern 
Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus breeding  1995  11-20 breeding pairs  poor  B2  Least Concern 
Common Crane Grus grus breeding  1995  21-50 breeding pairs  medium  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus breeding  1995  11-20 breeding pairs  -  A3  Least Concern 
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia breeding  1995  51-100 breeding pairs  -  A3  Least Concern 
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola breeding  1995  501-1,000 breeding pairs  poor  B2  Least Concern 
Great Grey Owl Strix nebulosa breeding  1995  3-5 breeding pairs  poor  A3  Least Concern 
Northern Hawk Owl Surnia ulula breeding  1995  3-5 breeding pairs  -  A3  Least Concern 
Siberian Jay Perisoreus infaustus breeding  1995  3-5 breeding pairs  -  A3  Least Concern 
Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus breeding  1995  1-2 breeding pairs  -  A3  Least Concern 
Siberian Tit Parus cinctus breeding  1997  1-2 breeding pairs  -  A3  Least Concern 
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla breeding  1995  2,001-5,000 breeding pairs  -  A3  Least Concern 
Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus breeding  1995  21-50 breeding pairs  poor  A3, B3  Least Concern 
Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica breeding  1995  201-500 breeding pairs  -  A3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Runkauksen luonnonpuisto Strict Nature Reserve 7,049 protected area contained by site 7,030  
RUNKAUS - FI1301601 Habitats Directive 7,050 protected area contained by site 7,050  
Saariaapa-Hattuselkä - FI1301612 Habitats Directive 2,503 protected area overlaps with site 2,296  
Saariaavan soidensuojelualue Protected Mire 1,896 protected area contained by site 1,908  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Alluvial and very wet forest; Native coniferous woodland  25%
Wetlands (inland) Raised bogs  75%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
forestry 5%
hunting 50%
unknown 45%

Management considerations Part of the area is a candidate SAC.

Protection status National Partial International None7,030 ha of IBA covered by Strict Nature Reserve (Runkaus, 7,030 ha). 1,908 ha of IBA covered by Peatland Reserve (Saariaapa, 1,908 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Runkaus-Saariaapa-Tainijärvet. 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