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FI005
Pomokaira-Koitelaiskaira
Location Finland, Lapin lääni
Central coordinates 26o 18.00' East  68o 0.00' North
IBA criteria A4i, B1i, B2, B3, C2, C3, C6
Area 141,630 ha
Altitude 250 m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

BirdLife SUOMI-FINLAND



Ornithological information An exceptionally important area for Arctic and boreal avifauna, especially for waders.

Site description A large complex of boreal habitats south of the Porttipahta and Lokka reservoirs. The mires which dominate the landscape are typically large, wet, and hold a very rich avifauna. Islands of old coniferous forests and pure Picea abies forests (mostly over 200 years old) are scattered across the area, which is also traversed by hundreds of kilometres of rivers (the largest being the Kitinen river) and streams bordered by Salix bushes, forests, and grassy swamp-forests.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus breeding  1996  10-50 breeding pairs  poor  B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Smew Mergellus albellus breeding  1996  10-50 breeding pairs  poor  B2, C2  Least Concern 
Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus breeding  1994  10-50 breeding pairs  poor  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Common Crane Grus grus breeding  1994  20-50 breeding pairs  poor  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus breeding  1994  100-300 breeding pairs  poor  B3  Least Concern 
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus breeding  1994  100-300 breeding pairs  poor  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola breeding  1994  2,000-5,000 breeding pairs  poor  A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus breeding  1994  400-1,000 breeding pairs  poor  A4i, B1i, B2, C3  Least Concern 
Ruff Philomachus pugnax breeding  1995  400-1,000 breeding pairs  poor  B3, C6  Least Concern 
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus breeding  1996  300-1,000 breeding pairs  poor  C2  Least Concern 
Eurasian Eagle-owl Bubo bubo resident  1996  5-10 breeding pairs  poor  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Great Grey Owl Strix nebulosa breeding  1996  5-20 breeding pairs  poor  C6  Least Concern 
Northern Hawk Owl Surnia ulula breeding  1994  50-200 breeding pairs  poor  C6  Least Concern 
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus breeding  1994  20-50 breeding pairs  poor  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus resident  1994  70-200 breeding pairs  poor  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Siberian Jay Perisoreus infaustus resident  1994  500-1,500 breeding pairs  poor  B2  Least Concern 
Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus breeding  1994  2,000-5,000 breeding pairs  poor  B2  Least Concern 
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata breeding  1994  1,000-3,000 breeding pairs  poor  B2  Least Concern 
European Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca breeding  1994  300-600 breeding pairs  poor  B3  Least Concern 
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis breeding  1994  5,000-10,000 breeding pairs  poor  B3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
KOITELAINEN - FI1301716 Birds Directive 48,938 protected area overlaps with site 44,896  
Koitilainen Mires Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 48,938 protected area contained by site 38,840  
POMOKAIRA - FI1301712 Birds Directive 92,358 protected area contained by site 92,358  
Pomokairan-Tenniöaavan soidensuojelualue Protected Mire 44,166 protected area contained by site 43,665  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest   25%
Wetlands (inland) Raised bogs  75%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
unknown -

Management considerations The area has valuable ore deposits, which mining companies have staked claim to. These claims threaten the protection of the area. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.

Protection status National Partial International High43,665 ha of IBA covered by Peatland Reserve (Pomokaira-Tenniöaapa, 43,665 ha). 34,400 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Koitelaiskaira, 34,400 ha). 141,532 ha of IBA covered by two Special Protection Areas (Pomokaira; Koitelainen).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Pomokaira-Koitelaiskaira. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013

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