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Lough Neagh and Lough Beg


IBA Justification

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 at site IBA criteria triggered
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

Note: The current IUCN Red List category may differ from the category that was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment.

For more information about the IBA criteria, please click here


IBA Conservation

IBA conservation status - summary
Year of assessment (most recent) Threat (pressure) Condition (state) Action (response)
2007 high very unfavourable low
Was the whole site assessed? yes Condition (state) assessed by population
Accuracy of information good

Threats to the site (pressure)
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

Condition of the site (state), by species
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

Conservation actions taken at the site (response)
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

IBA Protection

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

Habitats

IUCN Habitat 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 further information about the IUCN habitat classification, please click here.

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
fisheries/aquaculture -
hunting -
nature conservation and research -
tourism/recreation -
urban/industrial/transport -
For further information about the land-use classification, please click here.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lough Neagh and Lough Beg. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/2531 on 30/05/2023.