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Year of most recent IBA criteria assessment: 2007

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species	Current IUCN Red List Category	Season	Year(s) of estimate	Population estimate	IBA Criteria Triggered
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis	LC	passage	2001-2006	228 individuals	B1i, C2
Greylag Goose Anser anser	LC	winter	2001-2006	1,753 individuals	B1i, C3
Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus	LC	passage	2001-2006	12,699 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus	LC	winter	2001-2006	5,367 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
White-winged Scoter Melanitta deglandi	LC	winter	2001-2006	1,121 individuals	B2
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna	LC	passage	2001-2006	3,103 individuals	B1i, C3
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria	LC	passage	2001-2006	2,970 individuals	C6
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria	LC	winter	2001-2006	3,112 individuals	C6
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata	NT	passage	2001-2006	4,015 individuals	A4i, B1i, B2, C3
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata	NT	winter	2001-2006	3,387 individuals	B2
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica	NT	passage	2001-2006	1,454 individuals	A4i, B1i, C2, C6
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica	NT	winter	2001-2006	1,380 individuals	A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres	LC	passage	2001-2006	858 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres	LC	winter	2001-2006	815 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Red Knot Calidris canutus	NT	winter	2001-2006	5,991 individuals	B1i, B2, C3
Dunlin Calidris alpina	LC	winter	2001-2006	10,595 individuals	B2
Common Redshank Tringa totanus	LC	passage	2001-2006	5,715 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Common Redshank Tringa totanus	LC	winter	2001-2006	4,846 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Common Tern Sterna hirundo	LC	breeding	2000	750 breeding pairs	C6
Common Tern Sterna hirundo	LC	breeding	2006	1,039 breeding pairs	C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	passage	2001-2006	73,408 individuals	A4iii, C4
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter	2001-2006	77,575 individuals	A4iii, C4

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
Energy production and mining	renewable energy	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low
Human intrusions and disturbance	recreational activities	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Natural system modifications	dams & water management/use - small dams	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Pollution	domestic & urban waste water - sewage	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low
Pollution	garbage & solid waste	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low
Pollution	industrial & military effluents - oil spills	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low
Residential and commercial development	housing and urban areas	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low
Residential and commercial development	tourism and recreation areas	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low

Condition of key/trigger populations (state)
Scientific	Common	TargetPop	ActualPop	Units	Remaining	Result
Anser anser	Greylag Goose	595	1753	individuals	100	favourable
Anser brachyrhynchus	Pink-footed Goose	12800	5367	individuals	42	unfavourable
Tadorna tadorna	Common Shelduck	3560	1032	individuals	29	very unfavourable
Aythya marila	Greater Scaup	195	114	individuals	59	unfavourable
Pluvialis apricaria	Eurasian Golden Plover	3130	3112	individuals	100	favourable
Pluvialis apricaria	Eurasian Golden Plover	3340	2970	individuals	89	near favourable
Numenius arquata	Eurasian Curlew	2220	3387	individuals	100	favourable
Numenius arquata	Eurasian Curlew	2410	4015	individuals	100	favourable
Limosa lapponica	Bar-tailed Godwit	1530	1454	individuals	96	favourable
Limosa lapponica	Bar-tailed Godwit	2380	1380	individuals	58	unfavourable
Arenaria interpres	Ruddy Turnstone	1080	815	individuals	76	near favourable
Arenaria interpres	Ruddy Turnstone	685	858	individuals	100	favourable
Calidris canutus	Red Knot	7550	5991	individuals	80	near favourable
Calidris alpina	Dunlin	8650	10595	individuals	100	favourable
Calidris alpina	Dunlin	8650	10595	individuals	100	favourable
Tringa totanus	Common Redshank	4150	5715	individuals	100	favourable
Tringa totanus	Common Redshank	4190	4846	individuals	100	favourable
Larus fuscus	Lesser Black-backed Gull	865	99	breeding pairs	12	very unfavourable
Sterna hirundo	Common Tern	690	1039	breeding pairs	100	favourable
Species group - waterbirds	A4iii	28561	73408	individuals	100	favourable
Species group - waterbirds	A4iii	82120	77575	individuals	95	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 management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive	Not assessed	low

For more information about IBA monitoring please click here

Protected Area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
Torry Bay	Local Nature Reserve	891	protected area overlaps with site	0
St Margaret's Marsh	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	24	protected area overlaps with site	0
Skinflats	RSPB Reserve	426	protected area contained by site	426
Skinflats	Nature Reserve	426	protected area overlaps with site	0
Kinneil Foreshore	Local Nature Reserve	55	protected area overlaps with site	0
Kilminning Coast	Nature Reserve	20	protected area overlaps with site	0
John Muir Country Park	Park	0	protected area overlaps with site	529
Imperial Dock Lock; Leith	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	19,349	protected area overlaps with site	0
Forth Islands	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	9,795	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Forth Islands	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR)	0	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Firth of Forth	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	7,435	protected area overlaps with site	6,289
Firth of Forth	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	6,314	protected area overlaps with site	6,289
Firth of Forth	Marine Protected Area (OSPAR)	0	protected area overlaps with site	0
Firth of Forth	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	6,318	is identical to site	6,209
Fife Ness Coast	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	118	protected area overlaps with site	0
Dumbarnie Links	Nature Reserve	7	protected area overlaps with site	0
Alloa Inches	Nature Reserve	54	protected area contained by site	0
Aberlady Bay	Local Nature Reserve	575	protected area overlaps with site	582

IUCN Habitat	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Marine Intertidal		-
Shrubland	Heathland	-
Grassland		-
Wetlands (inland)	Water fringe vegetation, Fens, transition mires and springs	-
Marine Neritic		-
Marine Coastal/Supratidal		-

For further information about the habitat classification please click here.

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
nature conservation and research	-
tourism/recreation	-
urban/industrial/transport	-

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

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Firth of Forth. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 29/03/2023.