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

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2000 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 List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Black Grouse Lyrurus tetrix	LC	resident (1990–2001)	150–180 pairs	B2
Common Crane Grus grus	LC	non-breeding (1990–2001)	2,000–2,500 birds	A4i, B1i
Common Crane Grus grus	LC	breeding (1990–2001)	50–60 pairs	B2
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus	LC	breeding (1990–2001)	40–50 pairs	B2

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2000. The most recent assessment (2018) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species	Actual vs Reference (units)	% remaining	Result
Common Crane Grus grus	6,100 / 2,300 (birds)	100	good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Other	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Whole area (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A compre­hensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1968	Yelnya	Nature Sanctuary or Partial Reserve (IV)	89
1968	Elnya	Zakaznik (-)	94

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Wetlands (inland)	83	Standing freshwater; Raised bogs; Fens, transition mires and springs
Forest	17	Alluvial and very wet forest

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	70
not utilised	20
forestry	5
other	5

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Balota Jel'nia (Belarus). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/balota-jelnia-iba-belarus on 24/12/2024.