ZA090
Rietvlei Wetland: Table Bay Nature Reserve


IBA Justification

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
Cape Shoveler Spatula smithii LC non-breeding - 337-506 individuals A4i
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus LC non-breeding - 54 individuals A4i
African Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini LC non-breeding - present A1
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta LC non-breeding - 263-669 individuals A4i
Hartlaub's Gull Larus hartlaubii LC breeding - 150-375 breeding pairs A4i
Hartlaub's Gull Larus hartlaubii LC non-breeding - 543-1,102 individuals A4i
Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus LC non-breeding - 665 individuals A4i

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (1998).


IBA Conservation

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' habitats)
Habitat Habitat detail Reference area (ha) Actual area (ha) Habitat quantity (% remaining) Habitat quality (carrying capacity) Result
Shrubland Shrubland - Cape (fynbos) 0 0 poor (40-69%) poor (40-69%) very unfavourable
Wetlands (inland) 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 annual & perennial non-timber crops - small-holder farming happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) slow but significant deterioration low
Biological resource use fishing & harvesting aquatic resources - unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Biological resource use gathering terrestrial plants - unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Biological resource use hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - unintentional effects (species is not the target) happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Climate change and severe weather drought likely in long term (beyond 4 years) whole area/population (>90%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Climate change and severe weather habitat shifting and alteration happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) slow but significant deterioration high
Climate change and severe weather storms and floods likely in short term (within 4 years) whole area/population (>90%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Climate change and severe weather temperature extremes likely in long term (beyond 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
Human intrusions and disturbance recreational activities happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Human intrusions and disturbance work and other activities happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes introduced genetic material happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) slow but significant 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
Invasive and other problematic species and genes problematic native species/diseases - named species happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Natural system modifications fire & fire suppression - increase in fire frequency/intensity happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Natural system modifications other ecosystem modifications happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Pollution agricultural & forestry effluents - nutrient loads happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) slow but significant deterioration high
Pollution agricultural & forestry effluents - soil erosion, sedimentation happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) slow but significant deterioration low
Pollution air-borne pollutants - smog happening now whole area/population (>90%) slow but significant deterioration high
Pollution domestic & urban waste water - run-off happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) slow but significant deterioration high
Pollution excess energy - light pollution happening now whole area/population (>90%) slow but significant deterioration high
Pollution excess energy - noise pollution happening now whole area/population (>90%) slow but significant deterioration high
Pollution garbage & solid waste happening now some of area/population (10-49%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Pollution industrial & military effluents - type unknown/unrecorded happening now some of area/population (10-49%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Residential and commercial development commercial and industrial development happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Residential and commercial development housing and urban areas happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Residential and commercial development tourism and recreation areas happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Transportation and service corridors flight paths happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Transportation and service corridors roads and railroads happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Transportation and service corridors utility & service lines happening now 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
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)
Rietvlei Nature Area Nature Reserve 549 protected area overlaps with site 527
Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve 386,161 protected area overlaps with site 0

Habitats

Habitat (IUCN level 1) Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Shrubland Shrubland - Cape (fynbos) -
Marine Coastal/Supratidal -
Marine Neritic -
Marine Intertidal -
For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
tourism/recreation -
nature conservation and research -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Rietvlei Wetland: Table Bay Nature Reserve. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/rietvlei-wetland:-table-bay-nature-reserve-iba-south-africa on 09/12/2023.