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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 1999 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Fischer's Turaco Tauraco fischeri	NT	resident (1999)	present	A1, A2, A3
Sokoke Scops-owl Otus ireneae	EN	resident (1999)	present	A1, A2, A3
Southern Banded Snake-eagle Circaetus fasciolatus	NT	resident (1999)	present	A1, A3
Mangrove Kingfisher Halcyon senegaloides	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Eastern Green Tinkerbird Pogoniulus simplex	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Brown-breasted Barbet Pogonornis melanopterus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Mombasa Woodpecker Campethera mombassica	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Brown-headed Parrot Poicephalus cryptoxanthus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Green-headed Oriole Oriolus chlorocephalus	LC	non-breeding (1999)	rare	A3
Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike Prionops scopifrons	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
East Coast Batis Batis soror	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Gorgeous Bushshrike Telophorus viridis	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Fischer's Greenbul Phyllastrephus fischeri	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Lowland Tiny Greenbul Phyllastrephus debilis	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Little Yellow Flycatcher Erythrocercus holochlorus	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Scaly Babbler Turdoides squamulata	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Black-bellied Starling Notopholia corusca	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Spotted Ground-thrush Geokichla guttata	VU	non-breeding (1999)	present	A1
East Coast Akalat Sheppardia gunningi	NT	resident (1999)	present	A1, A3
Plain-backed Sunbird Anthreptes reichenowi	NT	resident (1999)	present	A1, A3
Amani Sunbird Hedydipna pallidigaster	EN	resident (1999)	present	A1, A2, A3
Mouse-coloured Sunbird Cyanomitra verreauxii	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Violet-breasted Sunbird Cinnyris chalcomelas	LC	resident (1999)	present	A3
Clarke's Weaver Ploceus golandi	EN	resident (1999)	present	A1, A2, A3
Sokoke Pipit Anthus sokokensis	EN	resident (1999)	present	A1, A2, A3

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1999. The most recent assessment (2023) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Forest	moderate (70–90%)	moderate (70–90%)	poor
Savanna	moderate (70–90%)	moderate (70–90%)	poor

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happe­ning now	whole of popul­ation/area (>90%)	rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	very high
Residential and commercial development	happe­ning now	whole of popul­ation/area (>90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	very high
Transportation and service corridors	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Biological resource use	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Human intrusions and disturbance	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Natural system modifications	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Climate change and severe weather	likely in short term (<4 years)	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Pollution	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Geological events	likely in short term (<4 years)	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Whole area (>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

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
-	Arabuko Sokoke	National Reserve (-)	100
1979	Arabuko Sokoke	Nature Reserve (IV)	10

The Local Conservation Group(s) listed below are working to conserve this IBA.

Name	Year formed
Arabuko Sokoke Forest Guides Association	1997

For more information on BirdLife's work with Local Conservation Groups, please visit Spotlight on local empowerment.

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Forest	85	Woodland - monodominant; Lowland forest - undifferentiated
Savanna	6	Bushland & thicket - evergreen

Land use	% of IBA
forestry	-
nature conservation and research	-
tourism/recreation	-
other	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Arabuko-Sokoke Forest (Kenya). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/arabuko-sokoke-forest-iba-kenya on 23/12/2024.