Fact sheet for HELCOM MPA 396 - Björkör Islands

The area forms the largest nature reserve within the territory of the Åland Islands. It is very representative of the different types of habitat present in the outer archipelago zone. In addition to the main island, the area encompasses hundreds of islands and islets. The traditional cultural landscape is visible and is managed and maintained by mowing or through pasturage. The housing stock has museum value and is managed accordingly. The vegetation of the main island consists of low-growing deciduous forest and this type of vegetation is also found on a few of the larger islands of the area. Many of the islets are important nesting sites for waterfowl. In general, a high diversity of bird species is found in the area. In recent times, the grey sealhave been observed in the area. From a geological perspective, Björkör is situated in the transition zone between younger and older bedrock. Because of its geographical location, Björkör is rather poor in botanical species.

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General information of MPA Björkör Islands, Finland

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Species in MPA Björkör Islands, Finland (hide / show)

Scientific nameAscending	English name	Species group	Species status	Does the species justify the site's designation as an MPA?	Performed monitoring	Authorities responsible for monitoring	HELCOM Red List category	Link to Species Information Sheet (SIS)	Link to WORMS
Alca torda	Razorbill	Birds	not reported	No	occasional monitoring program	other structure	-	SIS	WORMS
Anser anser	Greylag goose	Birds	not reported	No	occasional monitoring program	other structure	-	SIS	WORMS
Aythya fuligula	Tufted duck	Birds	not reported	No	occasional monitoring program	other structure	NT	SIS	WORMS
Cepphus grylle grylle	Black guillemot	Birds	not reported	No	occasional monitoring program	other structure	NT	SIS	WORMS
Charadrius hiaticula hiaticula	Ringed plover	Birds	not reported	No	occasional monitoring program	other structure	NT	SIS	WORMS
Cygnus olor	Mute swan	Birds	not reported	No	occasional monitoring program	other structure	-	SIS	WORMS
Halichoerus grypus	Grey seal	Mammals	resident	Yes	regular monitoring	professional organization independently of the management structure	LC	SIS	WORMS
Lutra lutra	Eurasian otter	Mammals	not reported	No	not reported	not reported	NT	SIS	WORMS
Phoca hispida botnica	Baltic ringed seal	Mammals	occasional	No	occasional monitoring program	professional organization independently of the management structure	VU	SIS	WORMS
Somateria mollissima	Common eider	Birds	not reported	No	occasional monitoring program	other structure	VU	SIS	WORMS
Stercorarius parasiticus	Parasitic jaeger	Birds	not reported	No	occasional monitoring program	other structure	-	SIS	WORMS
Sterna paradisaea	Arctic tern	Birds	breeding	Yes	occasional monitoring program	other structure	-	SIS	WORMS

Biotopes in MPA Björkör Islands, Finland

Biotope complexes in MPA Björkör Islands, Finland.

Code (HD Annex 1)	Biotope complex name	Does the biotope complex justify the site's designation as an MPA?	Performed monitoring	Authorities responsible monitoring	HELCOM Red List category	Link to Biotope Complex Information Sheet (BIS)
6270	Fennoscandian lowland species-rich dry to mesic grasslands	Yes	not reported	not reported	-	-
6530	Fennoscandian wooded meadows	Yes	not reported	not reported	-	-
9070	Fennoscandian wooded pastures	Yes	not reported	not reported	-	-
1150	Coastal lagoons	Yes	not reported	not reported	EN	BIS
1620	Boreal Baltic islets and small islands	Yes	not reported	not reported	NT	BIS

Management and regulated activities of MPA Björkör Islands, Finland

Pressure (list according to MSFD Annex III revision document, May 2015)	Inside or outside the MPA	Intensity (low, medium, high)	Past, current or potential future pressure
Input of nutrients and organic matter	outside	high	current
Input of contaminants (synthetic substances, non-synthetic substances, radionuclides) - diffuse sources, point sources, acute events	outside	high	potential future
Disturbance of species	outside	low	current,potential future