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The site was identified as important in 1999 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
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

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (1999).

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Habitat detail	Reference area (ha)	Actual area (ha)	Habitat quantity (% remaining)	Habitat quality (carrying capacity)	Result
Artificial/Terrestrial	Forestry & agro-industrial plantations	0	0	poor (40-69%)	poor (40-69%)	very unfavourable
Forest	Montane forest - mixed	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	annual & perennial non-timber crops - agro-industry farming	past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Agricultural expansion and intensification	annual & perennial non-timber crops - shifting agriculture	past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Agricultural expansion and intensification	annual & perennial non-timber crops - small-holder farming	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Agricultural expansion and intensification	livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Biological resource use	gathering terrestrial plants - persecution/control	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Climate change and severe weather	drought	likely in short term (within 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
Energy production and mining	oil and gas drilling	past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Energy production and mining	renewable energy	past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Geological events	avalanches/landslides	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	recreational activities	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Human intrusions and disturbance	work and other activities	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - unspecified species	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Natural system modifications	dams & water management/use - abstraction of surface water (unknown use)	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Natural system modifications	fire & fire suppression - increase in fire frequency/intensity	past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
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	commercial and industrial development	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Residential and commercial development	housing and urban areas	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Residential and commercial development	tourism and recreation areas	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Transportation and service corridors	roads and railroads	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
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	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity	medium

For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

Protected area (PA)	PA designation	PA area (ha)	Relationship of PA with IBA	Overlap of PA 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

The Local Conservation Groups listed 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.

Habitat (IUCN level 1)	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Forest	Montane forest - mixed	-
Artificial/Terrestrial	Forestry & agro-industrial plantations	-
Savanna	Bamboo - Montane	-

For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
agriculture	-
forestry	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kikuyu Escarpment forest. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kikuyu-escarpment-forest-iba-kenya on 01/10/2023.