Data Zone
The site was identified as important in 1998 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corncrake Crex crex | LC | winter | - | present | A1 |
| Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus | VU | resident | - | present | A1 |
| Blue Bustard Eupodotis caerulescens | NT | resident | - | present | A1 |
| Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus | VU | resident | - | 40-60 breeding pairs | A1, A4i |
| Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus | VU | non-breeding | - | 80-150 individuals | A4i |
| Black Harrier Circus maurus | EN | resident | - | present | A1 |
| Ground Woodpecker Geocolaptes olivaceus | NT | resident | - | present | A1 |
The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (1998).
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2013 | not assessed | high | high |
| Was the whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | unset | medium | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' populations) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Common name | Reference population | Actual population | Units | % of population remaining | Result |
| Geronticus calvus | Southern Bald Ibis | 150 | 80 | individuals | 54 | unfavourable |
| 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 | Grassland - montane | 0 | 0 | poor (40-69%) | moderate (70-90%) | 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 | livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - nomadic grazing | happening now | whole area/population (>90%) | slow but significant deterioration | high |
| Biological resource use | fishing & harvesting aquatic resources - unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | work and other activities | happening now | whole area/population (>90%) | no or imperceptible deterioration | low |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - named species | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Natural system modifications | dams & water management/use - large dams | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | some of area/population (10-49%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | medium |
| Natural system modifications | fire & fire suppression - increase in fire frequency/intensity | happening now | whole area/population (>90%) | slow but significant deterioration | high |
| Pollution | agricultural & forestry effluents - type unknown/unrecorded | happening now | majority/most of area/population (50-90%) | slow but significant deterioration | high |
| 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%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Residential and commercial development | housing and urban areas | happening now | small area/few individuals (<10%) | slow but significant deterioration | low |
| Residential and commercial development | tourism and recreation areas | happening now | majority/most of area/population (50-90%) | slow but significant deterioration | high |
| Transportation and service corridors | utility & service lines | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| 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 | A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species | The conservation measures needed for the site are being comprehensively and effectively implemented | high |
| Protected area (PA) | PA designation | PA area (ha) | Relationship of PA with IBA | Overlap of PA with IBA (ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelmsford Public Resort Nature Reserve | Nature Reserve | 6,103 | protected area contains site | 5,984 |
| Habitat (IUCN level 1) | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | Grassland - montane | - |
| Artificial/Terrestrial | - |
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Chelmsford Nature Reserve. Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/chelmsford-nature-reserve-iba-south-africa on 30/09/2023.
