FK019
Hope Harbour, West Falkland


Country/territory: Falkland Islands (Malvinas)

IBA criteria met: A1, A2, A4ii (2006)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 1,763 ha

Falklands Conservation

Site description (2006 baseline)
Grave Cove Camp, a promontory in the north-western section of Hope Harbour Farm, has striking scenery. Severe south-west-facing cliffs peak at 130 m in the south and the land slopes northwards towards the coast of Hope Harbour. It is divided from Bramble Point Camp by a wide valley, only about 20 m above sea level at its highest point, with large areas of eroded ground to the south of Grave Cove. Much of Bramble Point Camp is mountainous with stone runs and is used for sheep farming. A ridge to the north of Hope Harbour extends westwards more than 2.5 miles (4 km) towards the low-lying Hope Point, with extensive kelp beds on its northern coast.

Key biodiversity
Hope Harbour has been chosen as an IBA because it is the only mainland site with colonies of the globally endangered Black-browed Albatross and it has two large colonies of Gentoo Penguins. Access to the albatross colonies on very steep cliffs is extremely difficult. Endemic sub-species recorded at the site include the Upland Goose and the Long-tailed Meadowlark. Apart from penguin and albatross counts, there is little information available. Knowledge of other species is very limited and requires further fieldwork.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Hope Harbour, West Falkland. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/hope-harbour-west-falkland-iba-falkland-islands-(malvinas) on 19/03/2024.