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 | Red List Category | Season | Year(s) | Population estimate at site | IBA criteria met |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus | VU | resident | - | 10 breeding pairs | A1 |
Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus | VU | resident | - | 1 breeding pairs | A1 |
Ground Woodpecker Geocolaptes olivaceus | NT | resident | - | present | A1 |
Drakensberg Rockjumper Chaetops aurantius | NT | resident | 1998 | present | A1 |
Buff-streaked Chat Campicoloides bifasciatus | LC | resident | 1998 | present | A1 |
Yellow-breasted Pipit Hemimacronyx chloris | VU | resident | 1998 | present | A1 |
The current IUCN Red List category (shown above) 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 | favourable | high | high |
Was the whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
yes | habitat | medium |
State (condition of the trigger species' populations) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scientific name | Common name | Reference population | Actual population | Units | % of population remaining | Result |
Bugeranus carunculatus | Wattled Crane | 10 | 5 | breeding pairs | 50 | unfavourable |
Anthropoides paradiseus | Blue Crane | 2 | 2 | breeding pairs | 100 | favourable |
Geocolaptes olivaceus | Ground Woodpecker | 10 | 10 | breeding pairs | 100 | not assessed |
Chaetops aurantius | Drakensberg Rockjumper | 30 | 30 | individuals | 100 | not assessed |
Campicoloides bifasciatus | Buff-streaked Chat | 20 | 20 | breeding pairs | 100 | not assessed |
Hemimacronyx chloris | Yellow-breasted Pipit | 5 | 5 | breeding pairs | 100 | not assessed |
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 | good (> 90%) | good (> 90%) | favourable | |
Wetlands (inland) | Montane bogs, swamps and mires | 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 | livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - nomadic grazing | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
Biological resource use | hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
Climate change and severe weather | drought | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | whole area/population (>90%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
Climate change and severe weather | storms and floods | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | whole area/population (>90%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
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 | fire & fire suppression - increase in fire frequency/intensity | happening now | majority/most of area/population (50-90%) | slow but significant deterioration | 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 | 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) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Umngeni Plateau Nature Reserve | Nature Reserve | 1,368 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 |
Umgeni Vlei Nature Reserve | Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance | 959 | protected area overlaps with site | 0 |
Umgeni Vlei | Provincial Nature Reserve | 957 | protected area overlaps with site | 957 |
Habitat (IUCN level 1) | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
---|---|---|
Forest | Woodland - mixed | - |
Grassland | Grassland - edaphic, wet | - |
Wetlands (inland) | Montane bogs, swamps and mires | - |
Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
---|---|
nature conservation and research | - |
water management | - |
tourism/recreation | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Umgeni Vlei Nature Reserve. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/umgeni-vlei-nature-reserve-iba-south-africa on 19/03/2024.