Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
Two islands with cliffs situated off south-west Gotland. The tops of the islands are flat and support
Juniperus and a few copses. Sheep-grazing is the only land-use.
The IBA supports large numbers of breeding seabirds, including c.75% of the Baltic breeding population of
Uria aalge. Numbers of
Alca torda have increased by 50% over the last decade.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
No serious threats are known at the site. Auks are counted regularly. Guided tours/information are provided for visitors.
National Partial
International PartialIBA overlaps with Nature Reserve (Lille Karlsö, 926 ha). IBA overlaps with Nature Reserve (Stora Karlsö, 1,426 ha). IBA overlaps with Special Protection Area (2,100 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Karlsö Islands (Sweden). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/karlsö-islands-iba-sweden on 23/11/2024.
