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EE031
Põhja-Liivimaa
Location Estonia, Pärnu County
Central coordinates 24o 41.00' East  58o 0.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A4i, B1i, C1, C2, C3, C6
Area 14,162 ha
Altitude
Year of IBA assessment 2003

Eesti Ornitiliigiaühing (EOÜ)



Ornithological information An important staging area for migratory geese Anser (totalling 30,000-40,000 at peak counts) and Grus grus, and an important breeding area for several species of mire and forest. Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Grus grus (10 pairs), Picus canus (5-10 pairs).

Site description A complex of raised bogs, numerous pools, and broadleaved deciduous and mixed forests in south-west Estonia. The main land-uses are forestry, non-intensive agriculture, nature conservation and research, and tourism.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Bean Goose Anser fabalis passage  1996  15,000 individuals  unknown  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons passage  1996  10,000 individuals  unknown  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus passage  1997-2000  23-44 individuals  unknown  A1, C1  Vulnerable 
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus passage  1990-2000  500 individuals  unknown  B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Black Stork Ciconia nigra breeding  2002-2003  3-4 breeding pairs  unknown  C6  Least Concern 
European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus breeding  2002-2003  8-10 breeding pairs  unknown  C6  Least Concern 
Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina breeding  2002-2003  8-9 breeding pairs  unknown  C6  Least Concern 
Corncrake Crex crex breeding  2002-2003  130-200 breeding pairs  unknown  A1, C1  Least Concern 
Common Crane Grus grus passage  1990-2000  700 individuals  unknown  B1i, C2  Least Concern 
Ural Owl Strix uralensis breeding  2002-2003  15-20 breeding pairs  unknown  C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Pygmy-owl Glaucidium passerinum breeding  1990-2001  5 breeding pairs  unknown  C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus breeding  2002-2003  100-150 breeding pairs  unknown  C6  Least Concern 
White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos breeding  2002-2003  25-30 breeding pairs  unknown  C6  Least Concern 
Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus breeding  2002-2003  10-15 breeding pairs  unknown  C6  Least Concern 
Grey-faced Woodpecker Picus canus breeding  2002-2003  10 breeding pairs  unknown  C6  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Järveotsa - EE0040303 Habitats Directive 27 protected area contained by site 27  
Kivikupitsa - EE0040317 Habitats Directive 135 protected area contained by site 135  
Laulaste - EE0040309 Habitats Directive 1,060 protected area contained by site 1,060  
Laulaste looduskaitseala Nature Reserve 1,060 protected area contained by site 1,060  
Lemmejõe - EE0040342 Habitats Directive 6 protected area overlaps with site 2  
Nigula - EE0040370 Habitats Directive 6,398 protected area contained by site 6,398  
Nigula looduskaitseala Nature Reserve 6,398 protected area contained by site 6,398  
Nigula Nature Reserve Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 4,651 protected area contained by site 6,398  
Põhja-Liivimaa - EE0040344 Birds Directive 19,243 protected area contains site 14,162  
Sookuninga - EE0040369 Habitats Directive 5,869 protected area contained by site 5,869  
Sookuninga looduskaitseala Nature Reserve 5,869 protected area contained by site 5,869  
Sookuninga Nature Reserve Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 5,869 protected area contained by site 5,869  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Mixed woodland; Native coniferous woodland  54%
Wetlands (inland) Raised bogs  12%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Arable land  17%
Shrubland   14%
Grassland   3%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 20%
forestry 45%
nature conservation and research 81%
tourism/recreation -
hunting -

Management considerations Major threats are posed by intensification of forestry, drainage, unsustainable hunting, and tourism. Regeneration of deciduous forest is limited due to overbrowsing by introduced red deer Cervus elaphus. Research involves monitoring of birds (since 1968) and mire plants.

Protection status National Partial International Partial1,590 ha of IBA covered by Nature Protection Area (Kodaja, 1,590 ha). 4,951 ha of IBA covered by Nature Protection Area (Nigula, 4,951 ha). 1,141 ha of IBA covered by Nature Protection Area (Rongu, 1,141 ha). 4,951 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Nigula, 4,951 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Põhja-Liivimaa. 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