• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

The site was identified as important in 2007 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 List1	Season	Year(s)	Size	IBA criteria
European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus	LC	breeding	2004	85 breeding pairs	B2, C6
Dartford Warbler Curruca undata	NT	resident	2006	38 breeding pairs	C6

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2007) may differ.

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2007. The most recent assessment (2007) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species	Reference	Actual	Units	% remaining	Result
European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus	36	85	males	100	favourable
Dartford Warbler Curruca undata	29	38	males	100	favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Natural system modifications	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity	high

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
1930	Wych Cross: The Warren	Nature Reserve	<1
1983	Old Lodge, Nutley	Local Nature Reserve	3
1986	Ashdown Forest	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	100
1986	Rock Wood	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	<1
1987	High Weald	Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty	100
1994	Ashdown Forest	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	100
2001	Ashdown Forest	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	85

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Forest	Broadleaved deciduous woodland	-
Shrubland	Heathland	-
Wetlands (inland)	Standing freshwater, Rivers and streams, Fens, transition mires and springs	-

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

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

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ashdown Forest (United Kingdom). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ashdown-forest-iba-united-kingdom on 23/11/2024.