Data Zone
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 IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arctic Loon Gavia arctica | LC | breeding (2001–2005) | 10 breeding pairs | C6 |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2007. The most recent assessment (2007) is shown below.
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2007 | favourable | medium | low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | population | good | |
| State (condition of the key species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| Arctic Loon Gavia arctica | 10 / 10 (breeding pairs) | 100 | favourable | ||
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Climate change and severe weather | likely in short term (within 4 years) | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | No management planning has taken place | Very little or no conservation action taking place | low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Fionn Loch Islands | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 1 |
| 1986 | Ardlair - Letterewe | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 24 |
| 2000 | Wester Ross Lochs | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 76 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (inland) | major (>10) | Water fringe vegetation; Standing freshwater |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Wester Ross Lochs (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/wester-ross-lochs-iba-united-kingdom on 18/01/2025.