Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation 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 List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Tern Sternula albifrons | LC | breeding (2006) | 40 pairs | B2 |
| Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus | LC | resident (2003–2007) | 8–15 pairs | C6 |
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.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2007 | good | high | medium |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | population | good | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus | 12 / 4 (pairs) | 100 | good | ||
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | rapid decline (>30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Climate change and severe weather | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | rapid decline (>30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Energy production and mining | likely in short term (<4 years) | few individuals/small area (<10%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | low |
| 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90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity | medium |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Suffolk Coast and Heaths | Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (V) | 100 |
| 1979 | Suffolk | Heritage Coast (V) | 60 |
| 1993 | Benacre | National Nature Reserve (IV) | 87 |
| 2005 | Pakefield To Easton Bavents | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 100 |
| 2017 | Southern North Sea | Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (UA) | 17 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | major (>10) | Mesophile grasslands; Humid grasslands |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | major (>10) | |
| Marine Intertidal | major (>10) | |
| Forest | minor (<10) | Broadleaved deciduous woodland |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Benacre to Easton Bavents (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/benacre-to-easton-bavents-iba-united-kingdom on 23/12/2024.