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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2021 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Eurasian Eagle-owl Bubo bubo	LC	breeding (2013–2021)	max 6 breeding pairs	C6
European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus	LC	breeding (2013–2021)	2–3 breeding pairs	C6
Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius	LC	breeding (2013–2021)	max 9 breeding pairs	C6
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio	LC	breeding (2013–2021)	1–26 breeding pairs	C6
Woodlark Lullula arborea	LC	breeding (2013–2021)	1–15 breeding pairs	C6

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2021. The most recent assessment (2009) is shown below.

State (condition of the key species' populations)
Species	Actual vs Reference (units)	% remaining	Result
European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus	1 / 1 (breeding pairs)	100	favourable
European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus	1 / 2 (breeding pairs)	50	unfavourable
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis	1 / 5 (breeding pairs)	20	very unfavourable
Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius	2 / 5 (breeding pairs)	40	unfavourable
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio	4 / 16 (breeding pairs)	25	very unfavourable
Lanius excubitor	2 / 4 (individuals)	50	unfavourable
Common Raven Corvus corax	2 / 3 (breeding pairs)	67	unfavourable
Woodlark Lullula arborea	1 / 10 (breeding pairs)	10	very unfavourable

Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Not assessed	Not assessed	Not assessed	not assessed

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1967	Vrads Sande	Fredet ved afgørelse, exl. Kirkeomgivelser (IV)	3
1992	Ikast-Brande Kommune	§3 beskyttet natur (alle søer, moser, vandløb, heder, enge mv) (IV)	1
1992	Silkeborg Kommune	§3 beskyttet natur (alle søer, moser, vandløb, heder, enge mv) (IV)	1

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Artificial/Terrestrial	65	Forestry plantations
Wetlands (inland)	15	Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation
Shrubland	10	Heathland
Unknown	10

Land use	% of IBA
forestry	65
unknown	25
nature conservation and research	10

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Forest areas south of Silkeborg (Denmark). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/forest-areas-south-of-silkeborg-iba-denmark on 12/01/2025.