KE003
Kikuyu Escarpment forest


IBA Criteria

Year of most recent IBA criteria assessment: 2001

Populations of IBA trigger species
Species Current IUCN Red List Category Season Year(s) of estimate Population estimate IBA Criteria Triggered
Jackson's Francolin Pternistis jacksoni LC resident 1999 present A2, A3
Montane Nightjar Caprimulgus poliocephalus LC resident 1999 present A3
Scarce Swift Schoutedenapus myoptilus LC resident 1999 present A3
Hartlaub's Turaco Tauraco hartlaubi LC resident 1999 present A3
Mountain Buzzard Buteo oreophilus NT resident 1999 present A3
Bar-tailed Trogon Apaloderma vittatum LC resident 1999 present A3
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater Merops oreobates LC resident 1999 present A3
Moustached Green Tinkerbird Pogoniulus leucomystax LC resident 1999 present A3
Fine-banded Woodpecker Campethera taeniolaema LC resident 1999 present A3
Mountain Oriole Oriolus percivali LC resident 1999 present A3
Grey Cuckooshrike Ceblepyris caesius LC resident 1999 present A3
White-tailed Crested-flycatcher Elminia albonotata LC resident 1999 present A3
White-browed Crombec Sylvietta leucophrys LC resident 1999 present A3
Black-collared Apalis Oreolais pulcher LC resident 1999 present A3
Chestnut-throated Apalis Apalis porphyrolaema LC resident 1999 present A3
Hunter's Cisticola Cisticola hunteri LC resident 1999 present A2, A3
Mountain Yellow Warbler Iduna similis LC resident 1999 present A3
Cinnamon Bracken-warbler Bradypterus cinnamomeus LC resident 1999 present A3
Eastern Mountain Greenbul Arizelocichla nigriceps LC resident 1999 present A3
Brown Woodland-warbler Phylloscopus umbrovirens LC resident 1999 present A3
African Hill-babbler Sylvia abyssinica LC resident 1999 present A3
Kikuyu White-eye Zosterops kikuyuensis LC resident 1999 present A3
Waller's Starling Onychognathus walleri LC resident 1999 present A3
Sharpe's Starling Pholia sharpii LC resident 1999 present A3
Abbott's Starling Arizelopsar femoralis EN resident 1999 present A1, A2, A3
Orange Ground-thrush Geokichla gurneyi LC resident 1999 present A3
Abyssinian Ground-thrush Geokichla piaggiae LC resident 1999 present A3
White-eyed Slaty-flycatcher Melaenornis fischeri LC resident 1999 present A3
White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata LC resident 1999 present A3
Rüppell's Robin-Chat Cossypha semirufa LC resident 1999 present A3
Bronze Sunbird Nectarinia kilimensis LC resident 1999 present A3
Eastern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris mediocris LC resident 1999 present A3
Golden-winged Sunbird Drepanorhynchus reichenowi LC resident 1999 present A3
Northern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris reichenowi LC resident 1999 present A3
Baglafecht Weaver Ploceus baglafecht LC resident 1999 present A3
Brown-capped Weaver Ploceus insignis LC resident 1999 present A3
Abyssinian Crimsonwing Cryptospiza salvadorii LC resident 1999 present A3
Yellow-browed Citril Crithagra frontalis LC resident 1999 present A3
Thick-billed Seedeater Crithagra burtoni LC resident 1999 present A3
Streaky Seedeater Crithagra striolata LC resident 1999 present A3

Note: This table presents the IBA criteria triggered and the species that triggered then at the time of assessment, the current IUCN Red List category may vary from that which was in place at that time.

For more information about the IBA assessment process and criteria please click here


IBA Monitoring

Most recent IBA monitoring assessment
Year of assessment Threat score (pressure) Condition score (state) Action score (response)
2021 high unfavourable low
Was the whole site covered? Yes State assessed by Habitat
Accuracy of information good

Threats to the site (pressure)
Threat Level 1 Threat Level 2 Timing Scope Severity Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification annual & perennial non-timber crops - small-holder farming happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
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
Agricultural expansion and intensification wood and pulp plantations (includes afforestation) - small-holder plantations happening now some of area/population (10-49%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Energy production and mining mining and quarrying happening now some of area/population (10-49%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Geological events avalanches/landslides likely in short term (within 4 years) some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Human intrusions and disturbance recreational activities happening now some of area/population (10-49%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Pollution domestic & urban waste water - sewage happening now some of area/population (10-49%) moderate to rapid 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%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Residential and commercial development housing and urban areas happening now some of area/population (10-49%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Residential and commercial development tourism and recreation areas happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) moderate to rapid deterioration low
Transportation and service corridors roads and railroads happening now some of area/population (10-49%) very rapid to severe deterioration high

Condition of habitat (state)
Habitat Habitat Detail Reference Area (ha) Actual Area (ha) % of habitat remaining % of carrying capacity (overall) Result
Forest Montane forest - mixed 0 0 moderate (70-90%) moderate (70-90%) unfavourable

Conservation actions taken at site (response)
Conservation Designation Management Planning Conservation Action Result
Most of site (50-90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species) A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive Some limited conservation initiatives are in place low
For more information about IBA monitoring please click here

IBA Protection

Protected Area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)
Nyamweru Forest Reserve 803 protected area overlaps with site 0
Kikuyu Escarpment Forest Reserve 37,619 protected area overlaps with site 37,600
Aberdare Forest Reserve 103,316 protected area is adjacent to site 0

Local conservation groups

The local conservation groups below are working to support conservation at this IBA.

Name Year formed
Kijabe Environmental Volunteers Organisation 1994
For more information on BirdLife's work with Local conservation groups please click here.

Habitats

IUCN Habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Montane forest - mixed -
Artificial/Terrestrial Forestry & agro-industrial plantations -
Savanna Bamboo - Montane -
For further information about the habitat classification please click here.

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
forestry -
For further information about the land use classification please click here.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Kikuyu Escarpment forest. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 29/03/2023.