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FI006
Pallas and Ylläs fjelds
Location Finland, Lapin lääni
Central coordinates 24o 4.00' East  68o 4.00' North
IBA criteria A3, B2, B3, C2, C6
Area 89,233 ha
Altitude 650 m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

BirdLife SUOMI-FINLAND



Ornithological information An important area for Arctic and 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 100-km-long series of fjelds running from the settlement of Hetta in the north to Ylläs in the south. Here the Lapland fjelds meet the Lapland forests and consequently this is the northern or southern limit of distribution for many species of animals and plants. Tourists visit the area year-round; in winter skiing centres lure people to the area, and in summer hundreds or even thousands of people hike daily along the mountain tracks.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Smew Mergellus albellus breeding  1996  1-10 breeding pairs  poor  A3  Least Concern 
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria breeding  1986  500 breeding pairs  poor  B3, C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Dotterel Eudromias morinellus breeding  1986  50-100 breeding pairs  poor  C2  Least Concern 
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus breeding  1986  100 breeding pairs  poor  B3  Least Concern 
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia breeding  1986  50 breeding pairs  -  A3  Least Concern 
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola breeding  1986  400 breeding pairs  poor  B2  Least Concern 
Northern Hawk Owl Surnia ulula breeding  1996  3-10 breeding pairs  poor  A3  Least Concern 
Siberian Jay Perisoreus infaustus resident  1986  300 breeding pairs  poor  A3, B2  Least Concern 
Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus breeding  1986  20-50 breeding pairs  -  A3  Least Concern 
Siberian Tit Parus cinctus resident  1986  500 breeding pairs  -  A3  Least Concern 
Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus breeding  1986  2,000 breeding pairs  poor  B2  Least Concern 
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata breeding  1986  2,000 breeding pairs  poor  B2  Least Concern 
European Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca breeding  1986  500 breeding pairs  poor  B3  Least Concern 
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis breeding  1986  2,000 breeding pairs  poor  B3  Least Concern 
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla breeding  1986  10,000 breeding pairs  -  A3  Least Concern 
Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator breeding  1986  200 breeding pairs  -  A3  Least Concern 
Parrot Crossbill Loxia pytyopsittacus breeding  1986  100-500 breeding pairs  poor  A3, B3  Least Concern 
White-winged Crossbill Loxia leucoptera breeding  1996  50-200 breeding pairs  poor  A3  Least Concern 
Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica breeding  1986  500 breeding pairs  -  A3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Pallas-Ounastunturi - FI1300101 Birds Directive 59,426 protected area overlaps with site 50,360  
Pallas-Yllästunturin kansallispuisto National Park 102,214 protected area contained by site 50,912  
Tornionjoen-Muonionjoen vesistöalue - FI1301912 Habitats Directive 32,000 protected area is adjacent to site 0  
Ylläs-Aakenus - FI1300618 Habitats Directive 38,646 protected area contained by site 38,646  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Mixed woodland; Native coniferous woodland  65%
Grassland Tundra  20%
Wetlands (inland) Raised bogs  15%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
tourism/recreation -
other -

Management considerations Reindeer husbandry (`Other' land-use and threat) has caused some erosion of vegetation. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.

Protection status National Partial International None50,912 ha of IBA covered by National Park (Pallas-Ounastunturi, 50,912 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Pallas and Ylläs fjelds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013

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