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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus | VU | resident | - | present | A1 |
| Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus | VU | resident | - | present | A1 |
| Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea | VU | breeding | 1998 | present | A1 |
| Bush Blackcap Sylvia nigricapillus | VU | resident | 1998 | 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 | near favourable | high | high |
| Was the whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | habitat | medium | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' habitats) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Habitat detail | Reference area (ha) | Actual area (ha) | Habitat quantity (% remaining) | Habitat quality (carrying capacity) | Result |
| Forest | 0 | 0 | good (> 90%) | moderate (70-90%) | near favourable | |
| Grassland | 0 | 0 | good (> 90%) | moderate (70-90%) | near 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 | some of area/population (10-49%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | low |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - nomadic grazing | happening now | small area/few individuals (<10%) | no or imperceptible deterioration | low |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | wood and pulp plantations (includes afforestation) - agro-industry plantations | past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting | small area/few individuals (<10%) | slow but significant deterioration | low |
| Biological resource use | gathering terrestrial plants - unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | happening now | small area/few individuals (<10%) | slow but significant deterioration | low |
| Biological resource use | hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - unintentional effects (species is not the target) | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Climate change and severe weather | storms and floods | likely in short term (within 4 years) | whole area/population (>90%) | slow but significant deterioration | high |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | recreational activities | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | no or imperceptible deterioration | low |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | war, civil unrest and military exercises | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | work and other activities | happening now | majority/most of area/population (50-90%) | 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%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | high |
| Natural system modifications | dams & water management/use - small dams | happening now | small area/few individuals (<10%) | slow but significant deterioration | low |
| Natural system modifications | fire & fire suppression - increase in fire frequency/intensity | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Residential and commercial development | tourism and recreation areas | happening now | small area/few individuals (<10%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | low |
| Transportation and service corridors | utility & service lines | 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 |
| 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 | Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity | high |
| Protected area (PA) | PA designation | PA area (ha) | Relationship of PA with IBA | Overlap of PA with IBA (ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Shannon Protected Environment | Protected Environment | 4,753 | protected area is adjacent to site | 0 |
| Impendle Nature Reserve | Nature Reserve | 8,808 | protected area contains site | 0 |
| Impendle | Nature Reserve | 8,759 | is identical to site | 8,759 |
| Habitat (IUCN level 1) | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | - | |
| Shrubland | - | |
| Forest | - |
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
| water management | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Impendle Nature Reserve. Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/impendle-nature-reserve-iba-south-africa on 28/11/2023.
