Data Zone
Country/territory: Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway)
IBA criteria met: A1, A3, B1i, B3 (2014)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 11,470 ha
Site description (2000 baseline)
The site comprises about ten islands, most with grassy vegetation and some with small freshwater ponds. The fjord is surrounded by steep mountains and cliffs, glaciers and some tundra.
Key biodiversity
The islands and the mainland tundra are relatively species-rich and support at least nine of the 32 species that are restricted in Europe (when breeding) to the Arctic/tundra biome. The first and only instance of Pluvialis fulva breeding in the West Palearctic was recorded at Ny ålesund in 1997 (under consideration by the Norwegian Rarities Committee).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Inner parts of Kongsfjorden (Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway)). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/inner-parts-of-kongsfjorden-iba-svalbard-and-jan-mayen-islands-(to-norway) on 22/11/2024.