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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2007 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	winter (2001)	800 birds	A4i, B1i, C2
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis	LC	winter (2006)	5,000 birds	A4i, B1i, C2, C6
Greylag Goose Anser anser	LC	winter (2006)	10,000 birds	A4i, B1i, C3
Bean Goose Anser fabalis	LC	winter (2006)	15,000 birds	A4i, B1i, C3
Common Crane Grus grus	LC	passage (2006)	5,000 birds	A4i, B1i, C2
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris	LC	breeding (2001)	8–10 pairs	C6
Dunlin Calidris alpina	NT	breeding (2003)	7 pairs	C6
Black Tern Chlidonias niger	LC	breeding (2002)	40 pairs	C2, C6
Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus	LC	breeding (2006)	30 pairs	C6
White-tailed Sea-eagle Haliaeetus albicilla	LC	winter (2006)	50 birds	A1, C1, C6
A4iv Species group - soaring birds/cranes	n/a	passage (2006)	5,000 birds	B1iv, C5
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	winter (2006)	35,000 birds	A4iii, C4

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2007. The most recent assessment (2018) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Wetlands (inland)	moderate (70–90%)	poor (40–69%)	very poor
Artificial/Terrestrial	good (>90%)	moderate (70–90%)	moderate
Forest	moderate (70–90%)	good (>90%)	moderate

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Natural system modifications	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	very high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Most of area (50–90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species)	A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not compre­hensive	The conservation measures needed for the site are being compre­hensively and effectively implemented	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
-	River Helgean	Nature Reserve (-)	-
-	River Helgeån	Private Reserve (-)	-
1968	Norra Lingenäset	Nature Reserve (IV)	<1
1992	Fredriksdalsviken	Naturreservat (IV)	1
2001	Isternäset	Naturreservat (IV)	1
2006	Håslövs ängar	Naturreservat (IV)	2
2007	Hovby ängar	Naturreservat (IV)	11
2008	Egeside	Naturreservat (IV)	3
2009	Gropahålet	Naturreservat (III)	<1
2011	Åsums ängar och Åsumallet	Naturreservat (IV)	5
2011	Horna sjömark	Naturreservat (Ia)	2
2011	Åby ängar	Naturreservat (IV)	2
2011	Årummet	Naturreservat (Ia)	<1
2012	Näsby fält	Naturreservat (V)	6
2012	Vramsåns mynning	Naturreservat (IV)	1
2014	Hercules	Naturreservat (IV)	1
2017	Pulken-Yngsjön	Naturreservat (Ia)	4

The Local Conservation Group(s) listed below are working to conserve this IBA.

Name	Year formed
Nordöstra Skånes Fågelklubb	0

For more information on BirdLife's work with Local Conservation Groups, please visit Spotlight on local empowerment.

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Artificial/Terrestrial	48	Arable land; Other urban and industrial areas; Ruderal land
Wetlands (inland)	27	Standing freshwater; Rivers and streams; Water fringe vegetation
Grassland	13	Humid grasslands
Forest	7	Alluvial and very wet forest; Native coniferous woodland; Broadleaved deciduous woodland
Shrubland	4	Scrub
Other	1

Land use	% of IBA
agriculture	50
nature conservation and research	50
tourism/recreation	major (>10)
hunting	major (>10)
urban/industrial/transport	minor (<10)

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: River Helge (Sweden). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/river-helge-iba-sweden on 23/12/2024.