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Year of most recent IBA criteria assessment: 2010

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species	Current IUCN Red List Category	Season	Year(s) of estimate	Population estimate	IBA Criteria Triggered
Black Grouse Lyrurus tetrix	LC	breeding	2008	107 males	C6
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus	LC	passage	2007-2010	300 individuals	C2
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons	LC	passage	2007-2010	50,000 individuals	C3
Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope	LC	passage	2007-2010	25,000 individuals	C3
Northern Pintail Anas acuta	LC	passage	2007-2010	10,000 individuals	C3
Corncrake Crex crex	LC	breeding	2006	700 males	C1, C6
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana	LC	breeding	1991-1997	300-1,500 males	C6
Little Crake Zapornia parva	LC	breeding	1991-1997	27-80 males	C6
Common Crane Grus grus	LC	passage	2009	1,900 individuals	C2
Common Crane Grus grus	LC	breeding	2009	600 breeding pairs	C6
Black Stork Ciconia nigra	LC	breeding	1990-1992	24-26 breeding pairs	C6
White Stork Ciconia ciconia	LC	breeding	2009	300-400 breeding pairs	C6
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris	LC	breeding	1991-2000	27-120 males	C2, C6
Great White Egret Ardea alba	LC	breeding	2008-2009	10 breeding pairs	C6
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata	NT	breeding	2007-2010	50 breeding pairs	C1
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	NT	breeding	2007-2010	200 breeding pairs	C1
Ruff Calidris pugnax	LC	passage	2007-2010	20,000 individuals	C2
Great Snipe Gallinago media	NT	breeding	1991-1997	400-480 males	C1, C2, C6
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida	LC	breeding	1991-2000	1-150 breeding pairs	C6
Black Tern Chlidonias niger	LC	breeding	1991-1997	200-700 breeding pairs	C2, C6
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus	LC	breeding	2008-2009	4 breeding pairs	C6
Eurasian Eagle-owl Bubo bubo	LC	breeding	2005-2009	34-35 breeding pairs	C6
Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina	LC	breeding	2005-2009	34-35 breeding pairs	C6
Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga	VU	breeding	2005-2009	21-23 breeding pairs	C1, C6
Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus	LC	breeding	1991-1997	170-296 breeding pairs	C6
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus	LC	breeding	1997	97 breeding pairs	C6
White-tailed Sea-eagle Haliaeetus albicilla	LC	breeding	2005-2009	12-13 breeding pairs	C6
Picus canus	NR	breeding	1990-1997	70-80 breeding pairs	C6
Dendrocopos leucotos	NR	breeding	2005-2009	100 breeding pairs	C6
Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola	VU	breeding	2009	2,528 males	C1, C6
Bluethroat Cyanecula svecica	LC	breeding	2006	100 breeding pairs	C6
Ficedula parva	NR	breeding	1991-1997	250-350 breeding pairs	C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	passage	2007-2010	100,000 individuals	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
Agricultural expansion and intensification	wood and pulp plantations (includes afforestation) - agro-industry plantations	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	very high
Climate change and severe weather	habitat shifting and alteration	likely in short term (within 4 years)	whole area/population (>90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	very high
Human intrusions and disturbance	recreational activities	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	very high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - unspecified species	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	very high
Natural system modifications	dams & water management/use - abstraction of ground water (agricultural use)	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high

Conservation actions taken at site (response)
Conservation Designation	Management Planning	Conservation Action	Result
Most of site (50-90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species)	A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity	medium

For more information about IBA monitoring please click here

Protection status:

Protected Area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
Puszcza Augustowska	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	151,967	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Ostoja Biebrzanska	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	134,378	protected area contains site	136,900
Ostoja Augustowska	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	107,069	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Dolina Biebrzy	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	121,206	protected area overlaps with site	105,823
Biebrzanski PN	National Park	59,223	protected area contained by site	59,223
Biebrzanski National Park (Biebrzanski Park Narodowy)	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	59,233	protected area contained by site	59,223

IUCN Habitat	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Forest	Broadleaved deciduous woodland, Native coniferous woodland, Mixed woodland, Alluvial and very wet forest	-
Other		-
Grassland	Humid grasslands	-
Wetlands (inland)	Rivers and streams, Raised bogs, Water fringe vegetation, Fens, transition mires and springs	-
Artificial/Terrestrial	Highly improved re-seeded landscapes, Other urban and industrial areas, Ruderal land	-

For further information about the habitat classification please click here.

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
agriculture	-
forestry	-
not utilised	-
nature conservation and research	-
hunting	-

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

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2020) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Biebrza river valley. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/01/2020.