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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
Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor	NT	non-breeding	1994	50,000 individuals	A1, A4i
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	non-breeding	1994	20,000-49,999 individuals	A4iii

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

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Habitat detail	Reference area (ha)	Actual area (ha)	Habitat quantity (% remaining)	Habitat quality (carrying capacity)	Result
Wetlands (inland)	Saline lakes	0	0	moderate (70-90%)	moderate (70-90%)	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	livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Biological resource use	logging & wood harvesting - intentional use: subsistence/small scale	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	very high
Climate change and severe weather	drought	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	very high
Human intrusions and disturbance	recreational activities	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	very high
Pollution	domestic & urban waste water - run-off	likely in short term (within 4 years)	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Residential and commercial development	commercial and industrial development	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Residential and commercial development	housing and urban areas	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Residential and commercial development	tourism and recreation areas	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Transportation and service corridors	roads and railroads	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation	Management planning	Other conservation action	Result
Little/none of site covered (<10%)	No management planning has taken place	Very little or no conservation action taking place	negligible

For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

Habitat (IUCN level 1)	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Wetlands (inland)	Saline lakes	-

For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
urban/industrial/transport	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lake Magadi. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lake-magadi-iba-kenya on 04/10/2023.