Data Zone
Country/territory: Sweden
IBA criteria met: A3, B2, C6 (2000)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 29,000 ha
Site description (2000 baseline)
Two converging valleys in the mountains of northern Sweden, containing small rivers and their deltas. The southern valley holds a large lake system with flat shores, which form an important nesting habitat for waterbirds. The narrower northern valley contains the River Laisälven, which is bordered by a strip of marshland and surrounded by Betula forest, with some Pinus.
Key biodiversity
Important for breeding waterbirds, raptors and waders, and one of the final staging areas for northward-moving spring migrants. Breeding birds include nine out of the 32 species in Europe that are restricted (when breeding) to the Arctic/tundra biome. Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Gallinago media.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lake Tjålme – Valley of Lais (Sweden). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lake-tjålme-–-valley-of-lais-iba-sweden on 23/11/2024.