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 |
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 |
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 |
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.