BR032
Baixada Maranhense


IBA Justification

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2021 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:
Species Red List Season (year/s of estimate) Size IBA criteria
Red Knot Calidris canutus NT non-breeding (2011) 7,000 individuals B1a, B3a
Red Knot Calidris canutus NT non-breeding (2018–2020) 620 individuals B1a, B3a
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla NT non-breeding (2011) 35,000 individuals A4, B1a, B3a
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a non-breeding (2011–2018) 42,620 individuals B3b

IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2021. The most recent assessment (2008) is shown below.

IBA conservation status
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2008 not assessed medium not assessed
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
no unset -

Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification happen­ing now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Biological resource use happen­ing now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Not assessed Not assessed Not assessed not assessed

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
1980 Parque Estadual Do Bacanga Parque (II) <1
1991 Área De Proteção Ambiental Da Baixada Maranhense Área de Proteção Ambiental (V) 81
1991 Área De Proteção Ambiental Das Reentrâncias Maranhenses Área de Proteção Ambiental (V) 4
1991 Baixada Maranhense Subárea Baixo Mearim State Environmental Protection Area (V) 87
1992 Reserva Extrativista Quilombo Do Frechal Reserva Extrativista (VI) <1
1992 Frexal Extractive Reserve (VI) <1
1992 Upaon-Açu/Miritiba/Alto Preguiças State Environmental Protection Area (V) 6
2018 Amazon Estuary and its Mangroves Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance (VI) 4

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Artificial/Terrestrial major (>10)
Marine Coastal/Supratidal major (>10)
Marine Intertidal major (>10)
Wetlands (inland) major (>10) Freshwater lakes and pools; Freshwater marshes/swamps; Intertidal mud, sand or salt flats; Riverine floodplains; Salt/brackish marshes
Forest minor (<10) Gallery (or Riparian) forest


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Baixada Maranhense (Brazil). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/baixada-maranhense-iba-brazil on 14/01/2025.