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FI002
Käsivarsi fjelds
Location Finland, Lapin lääni
Central coordinates 21o 30.00' East  69o 0.00' North
IBA criteria A3, B2, B3, C2, C6
Area 220,078 ha
Altitude 800 - 1,300m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

BirdLife SUOMI-FINLAND



Ornithological information An important breeding area for Arctic species. Breeding birds include 15 out of the 32 species in Europe that are restricted to the Arctic/tundra biome (when breeding). Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Anser erythropus (passage).

Site description A very large wilderness of rugged fjelds in north-western Finland. The landscape is open, dominated by rocky mountains isolated by valleys or plateaus, with numerous ponds, small lakes and rivulets. Birch Betula pubescens forest covers the lower parts of the fjelds. There are many human settlements along the road bordering the area to the west. Tourism is heavy around Saana in the north for 2-3 months per year, but otherwise the area suffers only minor human impact.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus breeding  1996  1 breeding pairs  medium  A3  Vulnerable 
Greater Scaup Aythya marila breeding  1996  30-50 breeding pairs  medium  A3  Least Concern 
Black Scoter Melanitta nigra breeding  1996  50 breeding pairs  medium  A3  Not Recognised 
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis breeding  1996  100 breeding pairs  medium  A3  Vulnerable 
Smew Mergellus albellus breeding  1996  5-20 breeding pairs  poor  B2, C2  Least Concern 
Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata breeding  1996  10-50 breeding pairs  poor  B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Gyr Falcon Falco rusticolus resident  1996  4-7 breeding pairs  good  A3  Least Concern 
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria breeding  1996  300-1,000 breeding pairs  poor  B3, C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Dotterel Eudromias morinellus breeding  1996  100-300 breeding pairs  medium  C2  Least Concern 
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica breeding  1996  1-5 breeding pairs  medium  A3  Least Concern 
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus breeding  1996  5-10 breeding pairs  medium  A3  Least Concern 
Common Redshank Tringa totanus breeding  1996  50-200 breeding pairs  poor  B2  Least Concern 
Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii breeding  1996  50-100 breeding pairs  medium  A3  Least Concern 
Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima breeding  1996  10 breeding pairs  medium  A3  Least Concern 
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus breeding  1996  200-500 breeding pairs  medium  A3, C2  Least Concern 
Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus breeding  1996  20-200 breeding pairs  medium  A3  Least Concern 
Snowy Owl Bubo scandiaca breeding  1996  10 breeding pairs  medium  A3, B2, C6  Least Concern 
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus breeding  1996  50-200 breeding pairs  medium  B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica breeding  1996  20,000 breeding pairs  poor  C2  Least Concern 
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis breeding  1996  30,000 breeding pairs  poor  B3  Least Concern 
Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus breeding  1996  50-100 breeding pairs  medium  A3  Least Concern 
Lapland Longspur Calcarius lapponicus breeding  1996  500-2,000 breeding pairs  poor  A3  Least Concern 
Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis breeding  1996  3,000-8,000 breeding pairs  poor  A3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
KÄSIVARREN ERÄMAA - FI1300105 Birds Directive 264,892 protected area overlaps with site 193,746  
Käsivarren erämaa Wilderness Area 219,988 protected area overlaps with site 173,264  
Tornionjoen-Muonionjoen vesistöalue - FI1301912 Habitats Directive 32,000 protected area overlaps with site 24,541  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Grassland Tundra  70%
Wetlands (inland) Raised bogs  15%
Unknown   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 High International High173,264 ha of IBA covered by Wilderness Area (Käsivarsi, 219,989 ha). 219,755 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Käsivarren erämaa).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Käsivarsi fjelds. 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