Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A large area of outer archipelago to the south-east of åland. The archipelago is dominated by groups of small, treeless, steep islands separated from each other by extensive areas of open sea.
An important area for many island-breeding species, especially
Alca torda but also
Somateria mollissima (1,500 pairs) and
Larus fuscus fuscus. It is one of the few wintering areas for waterbirds in Finland due to its location on the edge of the Baltic Sea, which normally remains ice-free. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria:
Polysticta stelleri (1-10 birds, winter),
Haliaeetus albicilla (5-10 birds, winter).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
There has been very little development on the islands, with the exception of a few summer cottages. The land-owner actively guards the whole area and tries to protect it. The Finnish government has planned to establish a massive shipping channel through the northern part of the area, but this project is currently on hold.
National None
International Partial2,379 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Klåvskår).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Föglö southern archipelago (Finland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/föglö-southern-archipelago-iba-finland on 25/12/2024.
