Northwest Spitsbergen National Park (Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway)) IBA | Summary

SJ002

Northwest Spitsbergen National Park

Current view: summary

Country/territory: Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway)

IBA criteria met: A1, A3, A4ii, A4iii, B1i, B1ii, B2, B3 (2014)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 988,030 hectares (9,880.30 km²)

Site description (2000 baseline)
Bird data are available for the following localities within this huge IBA: Guissezholmen Bird Sanctuary (includes islets near Kapp Guissez; 79°05'N 11°30'E); Casimir-Perierkammen (sea cliffs facing Krossfjorden; 79°08'N 11°52'E); Kongshamaren (headland with cliffs in Kongsfjorden; 79°13'N 11°50'E); Nilsfjellet (sea cliffs facing Krossfjorden; 79°16'N 11°33'E); Knoffberget (sea cliffs on north-west coast of Spitsbergen; 79°22'N 10°52'E); Moseøya Bird Sanctuary (79°40'N 11°00'E); Skorpa Bird Sanctuary (79°40'N 11°00'E); south-west Amsterdamøya (sea cliffs; 79°45'N 10°45'E); north Hakluythovden, Amsterdamøya (sea cliffs; 79°47'N 10°48'E); Klovningen (small island with sea cliffs at north end of Spitsbergen; 79°53'N 11°30'E); Flathuken (sea cliffs facing Raudfjorden; 79°51'N 11°50'E); Hornbækfjellet (sea cliffs facing Raudfjorden; 79°49'N 11°50'E); Austplana (sea cliffs facing Raudfjorden; 79°47'N 11°53'E); Liefdefjorden (fjord with numerous small islands; 79°40'N 13°00'E); Moffen Nature Reserve (island with lake, off north coast of Spitsbergen; 80°05'N 12°45'E); Nissenfjella (sea cliffs on north-west coast of Spitsbergen; 79°24'N 10°51'E).

Key biodiversity
There are two breeding concentrations of Branta leucopsis, while the number of breeding Branta bernicla at Moffen island probably exceeds 1% of the Svalbard population. There are also some large seabird colonies, the most numerous species being Rissa tridactyla (10,700 pairs) and Uria lomvia (67,700-71,700 breeding birds). The number of Sterna paradisaea is also notable (1,500 pairs). Moffen Nature Reserve is the only known breeding site for Larus sabini in Svalbard (up to five pairs).

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Northwest Spitsbergen National Park (Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands (to Norway)). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/northwest-spitsbergen-national-park-iba-svalbard-and-jan-mayen-islands-(to-norway) on 22/12/2024.