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The site was identified as important in 2007 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):

Species	Current IUCN Red List Category	Season	Year(s)	Population estimate at site	IBA criteria met
Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus	LC	passage	2001-2006	5,311 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Gadwall Mareca strepera	LC	passage	2001-2006	509 individuals	B1i, C3
Gadwall Mareca strepera	LC	breeding	1992	70 breeding pairs	B2
Common Teal Anas crecca	LC	passage	2001-2006	5,282 individuals	B1i, C3
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	passage	2001-2006	24,935 individuals	A4iii, C4

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2007).

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Scientific name	Common name	Reference population	Actual population	Units	% of population remaining	Result
Cygnus cygnus	Whooper Swan	120	10	individuals	9	very unfavourable
Anser brachyrhynchus	Pink-footed Goose	19200	2000	individuals	11	very unfavourable
Spatula clypeata	Northern Shoveler	520	52	individuals	10	very unfavourable
Species group - waterbirds	A4iii	31942	10763	individuals	34	very unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Natural system modifications	dams & water management/use - dams (size unknown)	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Pollution	agricultural & forestry effluents - type unknown/unrecorded	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Residential and commercial development	housing and urban areas	likely in short term (within 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Residential and commercial development	tourism and recreation areas	likely in short term (within 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation	Management planning	Other conservation action	Result
Most of site (50-90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species)	A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity	medium

For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

Protected area (PA)	PA designation	PA area (ha)	Relationship of PA with IBA	Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
Vane Farm	RSPB Reserve	224	protected area overlaps with site	187
Lomond Hills	Regional Park	6,645	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Loch Leven	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1,611	protected area overlaps with site	1,613
Loch Leven	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	1,612	protected area overlaps with site	1,612
Loch Leven	National Nature Reserve	1,823	protected area overlaps with site	1,597
Loch Leven	Nature Reserve	246	protected area overlaps with site	0
Loch Leven	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	1,611	protected area contained by site	1,612

Habitat (IUCN level 1)	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Grassland	Humid grasslands	-
Wetlands (inland)	Standing freshwater	-
Artificial/Terrestrial	Arable land	-

For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
agriculture	-
fisheries/aquaculture	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Loch Leven. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/loch-leven-iba-united-kingdom on 24/09/2023.