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Year of most recent IBA criteria assessment: 2000

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species	Current IUCN Red List Category	Season	Year(s) of estimate	Population estimate	IBA Criteria Triggered
Western Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus	LC	resident	1996	45 breeding pairs	C6
Black Grouse Lyrurus tetrix	LC	resident	1996	140 breeding pairs	B2
Greylag Goose Anser anser	LC	winter	1995	1,300 individuals	B1i, C3
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola	LC	breeding	1994	3 breeding pairs	C6
Osprey Pandion haliaetus	LC	breeding	1994	2 breeding pairs	B2, C6
Scottish Crossbill Loxia scotica	LC	resident	1994	abundant	A1, B2, C1, C6

Note: This table presents the IBA criteria triggered and the species that triggered then at the time of assessment, the current IUCN Red List category may vary from that which was in place at that time.

For more information about the IBA assessment process and criteria please click here

Threats to the site (pressure)
Threat Level 1	Threat Level 2	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Climate change and severe weather	habitat shifting and alteration	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Human intrusions and disturbance	recreational activities	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	problematic native species/diseases - named species	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	very high
Natural system modifications	fire & fire suppression - suppression in fire frequency/intensity	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high

Condition of key/trigger populations (state)
Scientific	Common	TargetPop	ActualPop	Units	Remaining	Result
Tetrao urogallus	Western Capercaillie	45	100	males	100	favourable
Lyrurus tetrix	Black Grouse	140	75	males	54	unfavourable
Anser anser	Greylag Goose	1300	650	individuals	50	unfavourable
Tringa glareola	Wood Sandpiper	3	1	breeding pairs	34	very unfavourable
Pandion haliaetus	Osprey	2	2	breeding pairs	100	favourable

Conservation actions taken at site (response)
Conservation Designation	Management Planning	Conservation Action	Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	The conservation measures needed for the site are being comprehensively and effectively implemented	high

For more information about IBA monitoring please click here

Protection status:

Protected Area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
Cairngorms	National Park	452,810	protected area contains site	5,769
Cairngorms	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	57,692	protected area overlaps with site	5,769
Abernethy Forest	RSPB Reserve	13,646	protected area overlaps with site	4,795
Abernethy Forest	National Nature Reserve	2,296	protected area contained by site	2,296
Abernethy Forest	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	5,784	is identical to site	5,769
Abernethy Forest	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	5,793	protected area overlaps with site	5,769

IUCN Habitat	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Forest	Broadleaved deciduous woodland, Native coniferous woodland	-
Shrubland	Heathland	-
Wetlands (inland)	Standing freshwater, Rivers and streams, Fens, transition mires and springs	-

For further information about the habitat classification please click here.

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
forestry	-
hunting	-
nature conservation and research	-

For further information about the land use classification please click here.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2021) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Abernethy Forest. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 17/01/2021.