ET048
Abijatta - Shalla Lakes National Park


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important in 1996 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
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata LC winter 1994 43,736 individuals A4i
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis LC non-breeding 1995 700 individuals A4i
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus LC non-breeding 1993 59,000 individuals A4i
Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor NT non-breeding 1993-1995 100,000-230,000 individuals A1, A4i
Black-faced Sandgrouse Pterocles decoratus LC resident 1996 present A3
Star-spotted Nightjar Caprimulgus stellatus LC resident 1996 present A3
Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus VU non-breeding 1992 5 individuals A1
White-bellied Go-away-bird Criniferoides leucogaster LC resident 1996 present A3
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta LC non-breeding 1992-1993 12,000-17,200 individuals A4i
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus LC non-breeding 1996 4,000 individuals A4i
Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius LC non-breeding 1996 10,968 individuals A4i
Ruff Calidris pugnax LC winter 1995 35,819 individuals A4i
Little Stint Calidris minuta LC winter 1994 36,272 individuals A4i
White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus LC winter 1995 2,500 individuals A4i
Common Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica LC winter 1994 650 individuals A4i
Eastern Chanting-goshawk Melierax poliopterus LC resident 1996 present A3
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus NT passage 1996 5 individuals A1
Hemprich's Hornbill Lophoceros hemprichii LC resident 1996 present A3
Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill Tockus flavirostris LC resident 1996 present A3
Von der Decken's Hornbill Tockus deckeni LC resident 1996 present A3
Black-billed Woodhoopoe Phoeniculus somaliensis LC resident 1996 present A3
Red-bellied Parrot Poicephalus rufiventris LC resident 1996 present A3
Chestnut-headed Sparrow-lark Eremopterix signatus LC resident 1996 present A3
Yellow-vented Eremomela Eremomela flavicrissalis LC resident 1996 present A3
Boran Cisticola Cisticola bodessa LC resident 1996 present A3
Scaly Chatterer Argya aylmeri LC resident 1996 present A3
White-rumped Babbler Turdoides leucopygia LC resident 1996 present A3
Bare-eyed Thrush Turdus tephronotus LC resident 1996 present A3
White-headed Buffalo-weaver Dinemellia dinemelli LC resident 1996 present A3
Rüppell's Weaver Ploceus galbula LC resident 1996 present A3
Speke's Weaver Ploceus spekei LC resident 1996 present A3
Black-cheeked Waxbill Estrilda charmosyna LC resident 1996 present A3
Steel-blue Whydah Vidua hypocherina LC resident 1996 present A3
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a non-breeding - 100,000-499,999 individuals A4iii

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (1996).


IBA Conservation

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2013 not assessed very high low
Was the whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes unset unknown

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1 Threat level 2 Timing Scope Severity Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - small-holder grazing, ranching or farming happening now whole area/population (>90%) moderate to rapid deterioration very high
Climate change and severe weather drought happening now whole area/population (>90%) very rapid to severe deterioration very high
Energy production and mining renewable energy happening now some of area/population (10-49%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Human intrusions and disturbance work and other activities happening now whole area/population (>90%) very rapid to severe deterioration very high
Natural system modifications other ecosystem modifications happening now whole area/population (>90%) very rapid to severe deterioration very high

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 planning has taken place Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity low
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)
Abijatta-Shalla National Park 91,751 protected area overlaps with site 88,700

Habitats

Habitat (IUCN level 1) Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Artificial/Terrestrial -
Wetlands (inland) -
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) -
Grassland -
For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
nature conservation and research -
tourism/recreation -
urban/industrial/transport -
other -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Abijatta - Shalla Lakes National Park. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/abijatta--shalla-lakes-national-park-iba-ethiopia on 22/09/2023.