Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2000 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus | LC | winter (-) | 500 birds | B1i, C3 |
| Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons | LC | winter (-) | 10,000 birds | B1i, C3 |
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | LC | breeding (-) | 41 pairs | B3, C6 |
| Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus | LC | breeding (1996) | 28 pairs | C6 |
| Common Tern Sterna hirundo | LC | breeding (1995) | 62 pairs | C6 |
| Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus | LC | breeding (1995) | 4 pairs | C6 |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | Het Zwin | Nature Reserve (-) | 7 |
| 1988 | Het Zwin | Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IV) | 100 |
| 2002 | Duingebieden inclusief Ijzermonding en Zwin. | Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IV) | 31 |
| 2002 | Polders | Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IV) | 4 |
| 2003 | Zwinduinen en -polders | Vlaams natuurreservaat (IV) | 11 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial/Terrestrial | 80 | Arable land; Perennial crops, orchards and groves; Forestry plantations |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | minor (<10) | |
| Marine Intertidal | minor (<10) | |
| Forest | - |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | 70 |
| nature conservation and research | 15 |
| tourism/recreation | 5 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Zwin (Belgium). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/zwin-iba-belgium on 23/12/2024.