KE003
Kikuyu Escarpment forest


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important in 1999 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
Jackson's Francolin Pternistis jacksoni LC resident 1999 present A2, A3
Montane Nightjar Caprimulgus poliocephalus LC resident 1999 present A3
Scarce Swift Schoutedenapus myoptilus LC resident 1999 present A3
Hartlaub's Turaco Tauraco hartlaubi LC resident 1999 present A3
Mountain Buzzard Buteo oreophilus NT resident 1999 present A3
Bar-tailed Trogon Apaloderma vittatum LC resident 1999 present A3
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater Merops oreobates LC resident 1999 present A3
Moustached Green Tinkerbird Pogoniulus leucomystax LC resident 1999 present A3
Fine-banded Woodpecker Campethera taeniolaema LC resident 1999 present A3
Mountain Oriole Oriolus percivali LC resident 1999 present A3
Grey Cuckooshrike Ceblepyris caesius LC resident 1999 present A3
White-tailed Crested-flycatcher Elminia albonotata LC resident 1999 present A3
White-browed Crombec Sylvietta leucophrys LC resident 1999 present A3
Black-collared Apalis Oreolais pulcher LC resident 1999 present A3
Chestnut-throated Apalis Apalis porphyrolaema LC resident 1999 present A3
Hunter's Cisticola Cisticola hunteri LC resident 1999 present A2, A3
Mountain Yellow Warbler Iduna similis LC resident 1999 present A3
Cinnamon Bracken-warbler Bradypterus cinnamomeus LC resident 1999 present A3
Eastern Mountain Greenbul Arizelocichla nigriceps LC resident 1999 present A3
Brown Woodland-warbler Phylloscopus umbrovirens LC resident 1999 present A3
African Hill-babbler Sylvia abyssinica LC resident 1999 present A3
Kikuyu White-eye Zosterops kikuyuensis LC resident 1999 present A3
Waller's Starling Onychognathus walleri LC resident 1999 present A3
Sharpe's Starling Pholia sharpii LC resident 1999 present A3
Abbott's Starling Arizelopsar femoralis EN resident 1999 present A1, A2, A3
Orange Ground-thrush Geokichla gurneyi LC resident 1999 present A3
Abyssinian Ground-thrush Geokichla piaggiae LC resident 1999 present A3
White-eyed Slaty-flycatcher Melaenornis fischeri LC resident 1999 present A3
White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata LC resident 1999 present A3
Rüppell's Robin-Chat Cossypha semirufa LC resident 1999 present A3
Bronze Sunbird Nectarinia kilimensis LC resident 1999 present A3
Eastern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris mediocris LC resident 1999 present A3
Golden-winged Sunbird Drepanorhynchus reichenowi LC resident 1999 present A3
Northern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris reichenowi LC resident 1999 present A3
Baglafecht Weaver Ploceus baglafecht LC resident 1999 present A3
Brown-capped Weaver Ploceus insignis LC resident 1999 present A3
Abyssinian Crimsonwing Cryptospiza salvadorii LC resident 1999 present A3
Yellow-browed Citril Crithagra frontalis LC resident 1999 present A3
Thick-billed Seedeater Crithagra burtoni LC resident 1999 present A3
Streaky Seedeater Crithagra striolata LC resident 1999 present A3

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (1999).


IBA Conservation

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2022 very unfavourable high medium
Was the whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
no habitat good

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat Habitat detail Reference area (ha) Actual area (ha) Habitat quantity (% remaining) Habitat quality (carrying capacity) Result
Artificial/Terrestrial Forestry & agro-industrial plantations 0 0 poor (40-69%) poor (40-69%) very unfavourable
Forest Montane forest - mixed 0 0 good (> 90%) good (> 90%) favourable

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 past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Agricultural expansion and intensification annual & perennial non-timber crops - shifting agriculture past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Agricultural expansion and intensification annual & perennial non-timber crops - small-holder farming happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Agricultural expansion and intensification livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - small-holder grazing, ranching or farming happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Biological resource use gathering terrestrial plants - persecution/control happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Climate change and severe weather drought likely in short term (within 4 years) whole area/population (>90%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Energy production and mining mining and quarrying happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Energy production and mining oil and gas drilling past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Energy production and mining renewable energy past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Geological events avalanches/landslides likely in long term (beyond 4 years) some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Human intrusions and disturbance recreational activities happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Human intrusions and disturbance work and other activities happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Invasive and other problematic species and genes invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - unspecified species happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Natural system modifications dams & water management/use - abstraction of surface water (unknown use) happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Natural system modifications fire & fire suppression - increase in fire frequency/intensity past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Pollution excess energy - noise pollution happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Pollution garbage & solid waste happening now some of area/population (10-49%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Residential and commercial development commercial and industrial development happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Residential and commercial development housing and urban areas happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Residential and commercial development tourism and recreation areas happening now some of area/population (10-49%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Transportation and service corridors roads and railroads happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) 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
Most of site (50-90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species) A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive 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)
Nyamweru Forest Reserve 803 protected area overlaps with site 0
Kikuyu Escarpment Forest Reserve 37,619 protected area overlaps with site 37,600
Aberdare Forest Reserve 103,316 protected area is adjacent to site 0

Local Conservation Groups

The Local Conservation Groups listed below are working to support conservation at this IBA.

Name Year formed
Kijabe Environmental Volunteers Organisation 1994
For more information on BirdLife's work with Local Conservation Groups, please click here.

Habitats

Habitat (IUCN level 1) Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Montane forest - mixed -
Artificial/Terrestrial Forestry & agro-industrial plantations -
Savanna Bamboo - Montane -
For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
forestry -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kikuyu Escarpment forest. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kikuyu-escarpment-forest-iba-kenya on 25/09/2023.