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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2001 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
Montane Nightjar Caprimulgus poliocephalus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Fischer's Turaco Tauraco fischeri	NT	resident (2000)	present	A1, A2, A3
Sokoke Scops-owl Otus ireneae	EN	resident (2000)	present	A1, A2, A3
Fraser's Eagle-owl Bubo poensis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A1, A2, A3
Southern Banded Snake-eagle Circaetus fasciolatus	NT	resident (2000)	present	A1, A3
Mountain Buzzard Buteo oreophilus	NT	resident (2000)	present	A3
Bar-tailed Trogon Apaloderma vittatum	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Eastern Green Tinkerbird Pogoniulus simplex	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Moustached Green Tinkerbird Pogoniulus leucomystax	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Brown-breasted Barbet Pogonornis melanopterus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Mombasa Woodpecker Campethera mombassica	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Green-headed Oriole Oriolus chlorocephalus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Grey Cuckooshrike Ceblepyris caesius	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike Prionops scopifrons	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
East Coast Batis Batis soror	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Gorgeous Bushshrike Telophorus viridis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
White-tailed Crested-flycatcher Elminia albonotata	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Kretschmer's Longbill Macrosphenus kretschmeri	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Red-capped Forest-warbler Artisornis metopias	LC	resident (2000)	present	A2, A3
Long-billed Forest-warbler Artisornis moreaui	CR	resident (2000)	present	A1, A2, A3
Eastern Mountain Greenbul Arizelocichla nigriceps	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Eastern Mountain Greenbul Arizelocichla nigriceps	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Shelley's Greenbul Arizelocichla masukuensis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Fischer's Greenbul Phyllastrephus fischeri	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Lowland Tiny Greenbul Phyllastrephus debilis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Yellow-throated Woodland-warbler Phylloscopus ruficapilla	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Little Yellow Flycatcher Erythrocercus holochlorus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Waller's Starling Onychognathus walleri	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Kenrick's Starling Poeoptera kenricki	LC	resident (2000)	present	A2, A3
Black-bellied Starling Notopholia corusca	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Orange Ground-thrush Geokichla gurneyi	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Swynnerton's Robin Swynnertonia swynnertoni	VU	resident (2000)	present	A1, A2, A3
White-chested Alethe Chamaetylas fuelleborni	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
East Coast Akalat Sheppardia gunningi	NT	resident (2000)	present	A1, A3
Sharpe's Akalat Sheppardia sharpei	LC	resident (2000)	present	A2, A3
Dapple-throat Arcanator orostruthus	NT	resident (2000)	present	A1, A2, A3
Spot-throat Modulatrix stictigula	LC	resident (2000)	present	A2, A3
Plain-backed Sunbird Anthreptes reichenowi	NT	resident (2000)	present	A1, A3
Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird Anthreptes neglectus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Banded Sunbird Anthreptes rubritorques	VU	resident (2000)	present	A1, A2, A3
Amani Sunbird Hedydipna pallidigaster	EN	resident (2000)	present	A1, A2, A3
Mouse-coloured Sunbird Cyanomitra verreauxii	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Zanzibar Red Bishop Euplectes nigroventris	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Usambara Weaver Ploceus nicolli	NT	resident (2000)	present	A1, A2, A3
Red-faced Crimsonwing Cryptospiza reichenovii	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Yellow-bellied Waxbill Coccopygia quartinia	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Oriole Finch Linurgus olivaceus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
East African Citril Crithagra hyposticta	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2001. The most recent assessment (2023) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species	Actual vs Reference (units)	% remaining	Result
Long-billed Forest-warbler Artisornis moreaui	122 / 250 (adults)	49	poor

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

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	The conservation measures needed for the site are being compre­hensively and effectively implemented	high

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
-	Bombo West	Forest Reserve (VI)	9
-	Mgambo	Forest Reserve (VI)	3
-	Bombo East I	Forest Reserve (VI)	3
-	Bamba Ridge	Forest Reserve (IV)	<1
-	Magoroto	Forest Reserve (IV)	3
-	Semdoe/Msige	Forest Reserve (IV)	3
-	Kwamrimba	Forest Reserve (IV)	2
-	Mlinga	Forest Reserve (Ib)	2
-	Bombo East II	Forest Reserve (VI)	1
-	Mlungui	Forest Reserve (VI)	<1
-	Mnyusi Scarp	Forest Reserve (-)	-
-	Kwamkoro	Forest Reserve (-)	-
-	Kihuhwi	Forest Reserve (-)	<1
-	Kwamsambia	Forest Reserve (-)	-
-	Amani-Sigi	Forest Reserve (-)	-
-	Longuza	Forest Reserve (-)	4
-	Amani East	Forest Reserve (-)	-
-	Lutinde	Forest Reserve (-)	-
-	Amani West	Forest Reserve (-)	-
-	Nkombola	Forest Reserve (-)	-
-	Amani	Forest Reserve (-)	-
-	Kilanga	Forest Reserve (-)	-
1934	Kihuhwi Sigi	Forest Reserve (-)	2
1955	Manga	Forest Reserve (IV)	2
1955	Sengoma	Forest Reserve (IV)	3
1955	Kwamgumi	Forest Reserve (IV)	6
1967	Mtai	Forest Reserve (IV)	8
1994	Kambai	Forest Reserve (VI)	3
1997	Amani	Nature Reserve (Ib)	21
2000	East Usambara	UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve (UA)	100

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Forest	100

Land use	% of IBA
agriculture	-
forestry	-
nature conservation and research	-
water management	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: East Usambara Mountains (Tanzania). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/east-usambara-mountains-iba-tanzania on 23/12/2024.