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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Grouse Lyrurus tetrix | LC | resident (1995) | 120 males | B2 |
| Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus | LC | resident (1995) | 10 pairs | B2, C6 |
| Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus | LC | resident (1995) | 19 pairs | B2, 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 | not assessed | high | medium |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | unset | good | |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| 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 |
| Some of area covered (10–49%) | A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Merrick Kells | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 13 |
| 1956 | Glentrool Oakwoods | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | <1 |
| 1960 | Clatteringshaws Dam Quarry | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (III) | <1 |
| 1968 | Cairnsmore of Fleet | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 1 |
| 1968 | Cairnbaber | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | <1 |
| 1968 | Kenmure Holms | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | <1 |
| 1975 | Cairnsmore of Fleet | National Nature Reserve (II) | <1 |
| 1975 | Loch Doon | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | <1 |
| 1976 | Silver Flowe-Merrick Kells Biosphere Reserve | UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve (UA) | - |
| 1988 | Ellergower Moss | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | <1 |
| 1988 | Talnotry Mine | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (III) | <1 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial/Terrestrial | major (>10) | Forestry plantations |
| Forest | minor (<10) | Broadleaved deciduous woodland |
| Grassland | - | Humid grasslands; Mesophile grasslands |
| Wetlands (inland) | - | Standing freshwater; Rivers and streams; Blanket bogs |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| forestry | major (>10) |
| nature conservation and research | major (>10) |
| agriculture | minor (<10) |
| water management | minor (<10) |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Galloway Forest Park (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/galloway-forest-park-iba-united-kingdom on 24/12/2024.