Data Zone
The site was identified as important in 2000 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:| Species | Red List1 | Season | Year(s) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | LC | non-breeding | - | 500-700 individuals | A4i, B1i |
| Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | LC | winter | 1976-1986 | 223-276 individuals | B1i, B3 |
| Barrow's Goldeneye Bucephala islandica | LC | breeding | 1975-1989 | 1,110 individuals | B2 |
| Goosander Mergus merganser | LC | winter | 1976-1986 | 99 individuals | B1i |
| Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus | LC | breeding | 1975-1989 | 222 individuals | A4i, B1i, B2 |
| Greater Scaup Aythya marila | LC | breeding | 1975-1989 | 3,275 individuals | B1i |
| Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus | VU | breeding | 1990 | 140 breeding pairs | A4i, B1i |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | unknown | - | min 20,000 individuals | A4iii |
1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2000) may differ.
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2000. The most recent assessment (2015) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2015 | not assessed | medium | medium |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | unset | medium | |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Energy production and mining | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | majority/most of area/population (50-90%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | medium |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected areas | Management plan | Other action | Result |
| Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Some limited conservation initiatives are in place | medium |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation | % overlap with IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Skutustadargigar | Natturuvaetti Monument | <1 |
| 1974 | Mÿvatn-Laxá | Conservation Area | 100 |
| 1977 | Myvatn-Laxá region | Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance | 7 |
| 2004 | Myvatn | Serlog | 21 |
| 2011 | Dimmuborgir | Natturuvaetti Monument | 1 |
| 2011 | Hverfjall (Hverfell) | Natturuvaetti Monument | <1 |
| 2012 | Seljahjallagil | Natturuvaetti Monument | <1 |
| Habitat1 | Habitat detail | % of IBA |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (inland) | Standing freshwater, Rivers and streams, Water fringe vegetation, Fens, transition mires and springs | 50 |
| Shrubland | Scrub, Heathland | 30 |
| Grassland | 10 | |
| Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 10 |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
| urban/industrial/transport | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Myvatn - Laxa (Iceland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/myvatn--laxa-iba-iceland on 22/11/2024.