Data Zone
Country/territory: Norway
IBA criteria met: A1, A3, B1i, B2, B3 (2014)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 390,530 hectares (3,905.30 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2017 | not assessed | not assessed | not assessed |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2000 baseline)
The largest boreal montane plateau in Europe, dominated by undulating terrain with several large lakes. This is a major sheep-grazing area, and there is also tourism and hunting (of reindeer Rangifer tarandus and grouse Lagopus).
Key biodiversity
Other breeding species include Gavia arctica, Aquila chrysaetos, Calidris temminckii, Stercorarius longicaudus (the southernmost regular breeding area in Europe), Lagopus lagopus, Lagopus mutus, Plectrophenax nivalis and Calcarius lapponicus. Hardangervidda was also, until recently, a traditional breeding area for Nyctea scandiaca, with up to at least 12-13 pairs in years of high rodent abundance. The last confirmed breeding record was in 1974, and the species appears to have stopped breeding in this area, for unknown reasons (although any records since 1974 may have been kept secret). One hypothesis is that increased tourism and disturbance may have driven the species away, another is that changes in rodent abundance (especially lemmings Lemmus) may have altered the food conditions for the owls in an unfavorable way.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Hardangervidda (Norway). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/hardangervidda-iba-norway on 23/12/2024.