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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
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus	LC	passage	2001-2006	672 individuals	A4i, B1i, C2
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus	LC	winter	2001-2006	1,464 individuals	A4i, B1i, B3, C2, C6
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula	LC	winter	2001-2006	5,217 individuals	A4i, B1i, C3
Common Pochard Aythya ferina	VU	winter	2001-2006	9,621 individuals	B1i, C3
Greater Scaup Aythya marila	LC	winter	2001-2006	3,920 individuals	A4i, B1i, B2, C3
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria	LC	winter	2001-2006	5,427 individuals	C6
Common Tern Sterna hirundo	LC	breeding	2000	93 breeding pairs	C6
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	passage	2001-2006	26,587 individuals	A4iii, C4
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter	2001-2006	60,382 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	1070	1464	individuals	100	favourable
Cygnus columbianus	Tundra Swan	225	7	individuals	4	very unfavourable
Bucephala clangula	Common Goldeneye	11500	5217	individuals	46	unfavourable
Aythya ferina	Common Pochard	28900	9621	individuals	34	very unfavourable
Aythya fuligula	Tufted Duck	21800	9847	individuals	46	unfavourable
Aythya marila	Greater Scaup	3300	3920	individuals	100	favourable
Pluvialis apricaria	Eurasian Golden Plover	5550	5427	individuals	98	favourable
Sterna hirundo	Common Tern	115	93	breeding pairs	81	near favourable
Species group - waterbirds	A4iii	100903	60382	individuals	60	unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification	marine and freshwater aquaculture - industrial aquaculture	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Biological resource use	hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Energy production and mining	mining and quarrying	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	recreational activities	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Natural system modifications	dams & water management/use - small dams	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Natural system modifications	other ecosystem modifications	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Pollution	agricultural & forestry effluents - nutrient loads	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Pollution	domestic & urban waste water - type unknown/unrecorded	happening now	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	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	low

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)
TOOME	Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI)	1	protected area contained by site	0
Shane's Castle	Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI)	143	protected area overlaps with site	0
Rea`S Wood And Farr`S Bay	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	42	protected area contained by site	0
PORTMORE LOUGH	Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI)	287	protected area contained by site	0
Portmore Lough	Nature Reserve	326	protected area overlaps with site	0
PEATLANDS PARK	Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI)	208	protected area contained by site	0
Peatlands Park	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	208	protected area contained by site	0
LOUGH NEAGH- OXFORD ISLAND NNR	National Nature Reserve	67	protected area contained by site	0
Lough Neagh and Lough Beg	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	40,857	protected area contained by site	41,188
Lough Neagh & Lough Beg	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	50,166	is identical to site	50,166
LOUGH NEAGH	Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI)	39,532	protected area contained by site	39,777
Lough Gullion	Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI)	126	protected area contained by site	0
LOUGH BEG	National Nature Reserve	148	protected area overlaps with site	0
LOUGH BEG	Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI)	1,054	protected area contained by site	0
CULNAFAY	Area of Special Scientific Interest (NI)	8	protected area overlaps with site	0

Habitat (IUCN level 1)	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Shrubland	Scrub	-
Grassland	Humid grasslands, Mesophile grasslands	-
Wetlands (inland)	Standing freshwater, Water fringe vegetation, Fens, transition mires and springs	-

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

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

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lough Neagh and Lough Beg. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lough-neagh-and-lough-beg-iba-united-kingdom on 04/12/2023.