FI028
Oulu region wetlands


Site description (2000 baseline):

Site location and context
A very large and diverse wetland complex, including sea bays, archipelago and farmland, in the vicinity of Oulu city. The site comprises extensive coastal meadows, early successional young deciduous forests, dry meadows, cattle-grazed farmland, sand beaches, sand-dunes, lagoons and inhabited areas.



Key biodiversity
A uniquely important breeding and staging area for numerous species. A very high proportion of the populations of many northern species stage on the area.



Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Human impact has detrimentally affected the area, resulting in nutrient pollution of water areas and overgrowth of wetlands and meadows. Conversely, active cultivation of farmland has benefited birds, creating large feeding grounds, especially for geese and cranes. Hunting pressure is very heavy in autumn, when hundreds or thousands of hunters gather here for wildfowling; hunting is prohibited in small parts of the area only. There are several birdwatching towers and wooden trails at Liminganlahti. At Tauvo, on the mouth of the Siikajoki river, a bird observatory has been maintained for many years, where ringing and migration observation are the main activities. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.



Protected areas
National Low International Partial764 ha of IBA covered by Private Protection Area (Isomatala-Maasyvä, 764 ha). 128 ha of IBA covered by Protected Area on Private Land (Tauvo, 128 ha). 20,684 ha of IBA covered by six Special Protection Areas (Isomatala-Maasyvänlahti; Liminganlahti; Kempeleenlahden ranta; Akionlahti; Säärenperä ja Karinkannanmata; Siikajoen lintuvedet ja suot).




Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Oulu region wetlands (Finland). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/oulu-region-wetlands-iba-finland on 03/12/2024.