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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
Knysna Turaco Tauraco corythaix	LC	resident	1998	present	A2, A3
Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres	VU	resident	-	40-48 breeding pairs	A1, A4ii
Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres	VU	non-breeding	-	100-150 individuals	A4ii
Black Harrier Circus maurus	EN	resident	-	present	A1
Knysna Woodpecker Campethera notata	NT	resident	1998	present	A1, A2
Grey Cuckooshrike Ceblepyris caesius	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Olive Bush-shrike Chlorophoneus olivaceus	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Barratt's Warbler Bradypterus barratti	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Yellow-throated Woodland-warbler Phylloscopus ruficapilla	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Spotted Ground-thrush Geokichla guttata	VU	non-breeding	-	present	A1
Brown Scrub-robin Tychaedon signata	LC	resident	1998	present	A2
White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Chorister Robin-chat Cossypha dichroa	LC	resident	1998	present	A2, A3
Gurney's Sugarbird Promerops gurneyi	NT	resident	1998	present	A3
Swee Waxbill Coccopygia melanotis	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Forest Canary Crithagra scotops	LC	resident	1998	present	A2, A3

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

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%)	good (> 90%)	favourable
Grassland		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
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
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	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 - unspecified species	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Natural system modifications	dams & water management/use - abstraction of surface water (agricultural use)	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Natural system modifications	dams & water management/use - small dams	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Natural system modifications	fire & fire suppression - suppression in fire frequency/intensity	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
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%)	slow but significant 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

Protected area (PA)	PA designation	PA area (ha)	Relationship of PA with IBA	Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
Umtamvuna Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	2,660	protected area overlaps with site	3,257

Habitat (IUCN level 1)	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Grassland		-
Artificial/Terrestrial		-
Forest		-

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

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

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Umtamvuna Nature Reserve. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/umtamvuna-nature-reserve-iba-south-africa on 28/11/2023.