Data Zone
Country/territory: Finland
IBA criteria met: A3, B2, B3, C2, C6 (2000)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 220,078 hectares (2,200.78 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2010 | very poor | high | low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2000 baseline)
A very large wilderness of rugged fjelds in north-western Finland. The landscape is open, dominated by rocky mountains isolated by valleys or plateaus, with numerous ponds, small lakes and rivulets. Birch Betula pubescens forest covers the lower parts of the fjelds. There are many human settlements along the road bordering the area to the west. Tourism is heavy around Saana in the north for 2-3 months per year, but otherwise the area suffers only minor human impact.
Key biodiversity
An important breeding area for Arctic species. Breeding birds include 15 out of the 32 species in Europe that are restricted to the Arctic/tundra biome (when breeding). Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Anser erythropus (passage).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Käsivarsi fjelds (Finland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/käsivarsi-fjelds-iba-finland on 23/12/2024.