UY021
Eastern Wetlands


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important in 2008 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):
Species Current IUCN Red List Category Season Year(s) Population estimate at site IBA criteria met
Straight-billed Reedhaunter Limnoctites rectirostris NT resident 1966-2005 90 individuals A1, A2
Sulphur-throated Spinetail Cranioleuca sulphurifera LC resident 1966-2005 present A3
Black-and-white Monjita Xolmis dominicanus VU resident 1966-2004 200 individuals A1
Saffron-cowled Blackbird Xanthopsar flavus EN resident 1996-2008 130 individuals A1
Chestnut Seedeater Sporophila cinnamomea VU breeding 2006 present A1, A2, A3
Marsh Seedeater Sporophila palustris EN breeding 2005-2008 27 individuals A1, A2, A3
Marsh Seedeater Sporophila palustris EN breeding 1999 2 individuals A1, A2, A3
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a non-breeding 2007 48,900 individuals A4iii

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2008).


IBA Conservation

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2013 very unfavourable very high medium
Was the whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes habitat unknown

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat Habitat detail Reference area (ha) Actual area (ha) Habitat quantity (% remaining) Habitat quality (carrying capacity) Result
Grassland 0 0 poor (40-69%) poor (40-69%) very unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1 Threat level 2 Timing Scope Severity Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification annual & perennial non-timber crops - agro-industry farming happening now whole area/population (>90%) very rapid to severe deterioration very high
Agricultural expansion and intensification livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - agro-industry grazing, ranching or farmin happening now whole area/population (>90%) moderate to rapid deterioration very high
Biological resource use hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - intentional use (species being assessed is the target) happening now whole area/population (>90%) no or imperceptible deterioration low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation Management planning Other conservation action Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation No management plan exists but the management planning process has begun Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity medium
For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

IBA Protection

Protected area (PA) PA designation PA area (ha) Relationship of PA with IBA Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
San Miguel Parque Nacional 1,542 protected area overlaps with site 0
Laguna Merín Other Area 314,000 protected area contains site 0
Humedales del Este Other Area 260,000 protected area contained by site 0
Fuerte San Miguel Historical Monument 1,553 protected area contained by site 1,553
El Potrerillo de Sta. Teresa Flora and Fauna Reserve 715 protected area contained by site 715
El Potrerillo de Sta. Teresa National Park 715 protected area contained by site 0
Cerro Verde Área de manejo de hábitats y/o especies 8,968 protected area is adjacent to site 0
Bañados del Este y Franja Costera UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve 1,245,750 protected area overlaps with site 0
Bañados del Este y Franja Costera Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance 431,536 protected area overlaps with site 407,408
Bañados del Este UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve 200,000 protected area contains site 0
Bañado de Los Indios Designation Not Known 2,488 protected area contained by site 0

Habitats

Habitat (IUCN level 1) Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Wetlands (inland) Freshwater marshes/swamps -
Grassland Campo grassland -
Forest Palm forest -
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine Rice paddies -
Marine Coastal/Supratidal -
For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
rangeland/pastureland -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Eastern Wetlands. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/eastern-wetlands-iba-uruguay on 04/12/2023.