• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

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') at the site:

Species	Red List1	Season	Year(s)	Size	IBA criteria
Arctic Loon Gavia arctica	LC	breeding	2001-2005	8 breeding pairs	C6

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2007) may differ.

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2007. The most recent assessment (2007) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species	Reference	Actual	Units	% remaining	Result
Arctic Loon Gavia arctica	6	8	breeding pairs	100	favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Natural system modifications	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Agricultural expansion and intensification	likely in short term (within 4 years)	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	No management plan exists but the management planning process has begun	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	low

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
1963	Loch Beannach Islands	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2
1980	Assynt - Coigach	National Scenic Area	100
1997	Assynt Lochs	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	100
2000	Assynt Lochs	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	100
2005	Quinag	Wildland reserve	23

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Wetlands (inland)	Standing freshwater, Rivers and streams, Fens, transition mires and springs	major (>10)
Forest	Broadleaved deciduous woodland	minor (<10)
Shrubland	Heathland	minor (<10)

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
hunting	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Assynt Lochs (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/assynt-lochs-iba-united-kingdom on 23/11/2024.