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close| Location | Belgium, Vlaams Gewest |
| Central coordinates | 3o 21.00' East 51o 20.00' North |
| IBA criteria | B1i, B3, C3, C6 |
| Area | 1,820 ha |
| Altitude | 0 - 7m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information The site supports internationally important numbers of wintering geese. Significant numbers of gulls, terns and meadow birds also breed and the dunes are an important staging site for migrating passerines.
Site description An area of saltmarshes and mudflats (a remnant of a former estuary) with a dune system and polders with halophile creeks and grasslands, several reedbeds and canals fringes with reed. The dune and saltmarsh area extends across the border into the Netherlands.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus | winter | - | 500 individuals | good | B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons | winter | - | 10,000 individuals | good | B1i, C3 | Least Concern |
| Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus | breeding | 1995 | 4 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | breeding | - | 41 breeding pairs | - | B3, C6 | Least Concern |
| Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus | breeding | 1996 | 28 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
| Common Tern Sterna hirundo | breeding | 1995 | 62 breeding pairs | good | C6 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duingebieden inclusief Ijzermonding en Zwin. - BE2500001 | Habitats Directive | 3,782 | protected area overlaps with site | 563 | |
| Het Zwin | Nature Reserve | 125 | protected area contained by site | 125 | |
| Het Zwin - BE2501033 | Birds Directive | 1,914 | protected area contains site | 1,820 | |
| Polders - BE2500002 | Habitats Directive | 1,866 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 | |
| Zwin | Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) | 530 | protected area contained by site | 530 |
|
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | - | |
| Coastline | Mud flats & sand flats; Salt marshes; Sand dunes & beaches | 10% |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Arable land; Forestry plantations; Perennial crops, orchards and groves | 80% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 70% |
| nature conservation and research | 15% |
| tourism/recreation | 5% |
Management considerations Breeding and wintering birds are monitored throughout the site, with the most important areas censused annually. 500 ha of IBA covered by proposed Site of Community Importance (IJzermonding and Zwin, 2,891 ha). 45 ha of IBA covered by proposed Site of Community Importance (Zilte poldergraslanden, 884 ha).
Protection status National Low International High125 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Het Zwin, 125 ha). 1,820 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Het Zwin, 1,820 ha). 530 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Zwin, 530 ha).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Zwin. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/06/2013
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