Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation 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 List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | LC | non-breeding (-) | 500–700 birds | A4i, B1i |
| Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus | LC | winter (1976–1986) | 223–276 birds | B1i, B3 |
| Barrow's Goldeneye Bucephala islandica | LC | breeding (1975–1989) | 1,110 birds | B2 |
| Goosander Mergus merganser | LC | winter (1976–1986) | 99 birds | B1i |
| Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus | LC | breeding (1975–1989) | 222 birds | A4i, B1i, B2 |
| Greater Scaup Aythya marila | LC | breeding (1975–1989) | 3,275 birds | B1i |
| Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus | VU | breeding (1990) | 140 pairs | A4i, B1i |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | unknown (-) | min 20,000 birds | A4iii |
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 (>4 years) | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Whole area (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Some limited conservation initiatives are in place | medium |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 (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Skutustadargigar | Natturuvaetti Monument (III) | <1 |
| 1974 | Mÿvatn-Laxá | Conservation Area (V) | 100 |
| 2004 | Myvatn | Serlog (IV) | 21 |
| 2011 | Dimmuborgir | Natturuvaetti Monument (III) | 1 |
| 2011 | Hverfjall (Hverfell) | Natturuvaetti Monument (III) | <1 |
| 2012 | Seljahjallagil | Natturuvaetti Monument (III) | <1 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (inland) | 50 | Standing freshwater; Rivers and streams; Water fringe vegetation; Fens, transition mires and springs |
| Shrubland | 30 | Scrub; Heathland |
| 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 22/12/2024.