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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2009 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
Chestnut Teal Anas castanea	LC	non-breeding (1981–2007)	1,200 birds	A4i
Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus	VU	resident (1981–2008)	12 birds	A1
Banded Stilt Cladorhynchus leucocephalus	LC	non-breeding (1981–2007)	5,000 birds	A4i
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata	VU	non-breeding (1981–2007)	541–5,591 birds	A4i
Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis	NT	non-breeding (1981–2007)	2,205–12,310 birds	A4i
Orange-bellied Parrot Neophema chrysogaster	CR	non-breeding (1981–2007)	12 birds	A1

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2009. The most recent assessment (2018) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	poor (40–69%)	moderate (70–90%)	very 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	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Climate change and severe weather	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Residential and commercial development	likely in short term (<4 years)	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	likely in short term (<4 years)	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Natural system modifications	likely in long term (>4 years)	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Biological resource use	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Agricultural expansion and intensification	likely in short term (<4 years)	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations)	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Most of area (50–90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species)	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	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
2001	Lake Connewarre W.R	Natural Features Reserve (VI)	81

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	major (>10)
Marine Intertidal	major (>10)
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine	minor (<10)	Saltpans
Marine Neritic	minor (<10)

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	major (>10)
urban/industrial/transport	major (>10)
hunting	minor (<10)
rangeland/pastureland	minor (<10)

Moolap Saltworks is a private, commercial salt production facility owned by Cheetham Salt Pty Ltd. The adjacent intertidal areas in Corio Bay are Crown Land. Lake Connewarre and Reedy Lake are State Game Reserves managed by Parks Victoria.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bellarine Wetlands (Australia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bellarine-wetlands-iba-australia on 23/12/2024.