Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
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).
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).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
No threats are known. Access to Moffen Nature Reserve is prohibited between 15 May and 15 September (including the adjacent sea areas and airspace below 500 m).
National High
International None328,300 ha of IBA covered by National Park (Nordvest-Spitsbergen, 356,000 ha). 41 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Guissezholmen [Bird Sanctuary], 41 ha). 1,600 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Moffen, 1,600 ha). 142 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Moseøya [Bird Sanctuary], 142 ha). 111 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Skorpa [Bird Sanctuary], 111 ha).
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 22/11/2024.
