ZA047
Umlalazi 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
Corncrake Crex crex LC winter - present A1
Southern Banded Snake-eagle Circaetus fasciolatus NT resident 1998 present A3
Mangrove Kingfisher Halcyon senegaloides LC resident 1998 present A3
Gorgeous Bush-shrike Telophorus viridis LC resident 1998 present A3
Black-bellied Starling Notopholia corusca LC resident 1998 present A3
Spotted Ground-thrush Geokichla guttata VU non-breeding - present A1
Mouse-coloured Sunbird Cyanomitra verreauxii LC resident 1998 present A3

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)
2014 unfavourable medium medium
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 moderate (70-90%) moderate (70-90%) unfavourable
Marine Coastal/Supratidal 0 0 moderate (70-90%) moderate (70-90%) unfavourable
Marine Intertidal 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 livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - nomadic grazing likely in long term (beyond 4 years) small area/few individuals (<10%) slow but significant deterioration low
Biological resource use hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - intentional use (species being assessed is the target) happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Energy production and mining mining and quarrying likely in short term (within 4 years) small area/few individuals (<10%) moderate to rapid 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 whole area/population (>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%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Natural system modifications fire & fire suppression - increase in fire frequency/intensity happening now some of area/population (10-49%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Natural system modifications other ecosystem modifications happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Pollution agricultural & forestry effluents - type unknown/unrecorded happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) slow but significant deterioration low
Pollution domestic & urban waste water - sewage happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) slow but significant deterioration low
Residential and commercial development housing and urban areas happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) slow but significant deterioration low
Residential and commercial development tourism and recreation areas happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) slow but significant deterioration low
Transportation and service corridors roads and railroads happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible 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 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

IBA Protection

Protected area (PA) PA designation PA area (ha) Relationship of PA with IBA Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
Umlalazi Nature Reserve Nature Reserve 1,451 protected area overlaps with site 1,318

Habitats

Habitat (IUCN level 1) Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Grassland -
Forest Mangrove, Lowland forest - dry evergreen -
Marine Coastal/Supratidal -
Marine Intertidal -
For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land use

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


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Umlalazi Nature Reserve. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/umlalazi-nature-reserve-iba-south-africa on 06/12/2023.