Data Zone
Country/territory: Finland
IBA criteria met: A3, A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, B3, C2, C3, C4, C6 (2000)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 309,553 hectares (3,095.53 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2010 | very poor | medium | low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2000 baseline)
A huge wilderness of fjelds, boreal forests and peatlands in north- east Lapland. Saariselkä, in the north of the area, is a barren fjeld wilderness with treeless mountain heath. Koilliskaira, to the south, is dominated by coniferous forests and aapa mires. Ponds, rivers and streams bordered by Picea abies swamps and herb-rich mires abound. In summer, hundreds or thousands of visitors trek within the area daily.
Key biodiversity
An exceptionally important area for Arctic and boreal avifauna. Breeding birds include seven out of the 32 species in Europe that are restricted to the Arctic/tundra biome (when breeding) and 14 out of the 15 species in Europe that are restricted to the boreal biome (when breeding).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Saariselkä and Koilliskaira (Finland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/saariselkä-and-koilliskaira-iba-finland on 24/12/2024.