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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2015 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
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus	LC	non-breeding (2010–2014)	3,000–18,000 birds	A4i
Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor	NT	non-breeding (2010–2014)	1,300–14,000 birds	A1
Denham's Bustard Neotis denhami	NT	resident (2010–2014)	present	A1
Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis	LC	resident (2010–2014)	100–700 pairs	A4i
African Spoonbill Platalea alba	LC	resident (2010–2014)	200–500 pairs	A4i
Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus	LC	resident (2010–2014)	2,000 pairs	A4i
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia	LC	breeding (2010–2014)	170 pairs	A4i
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia	LC	non-breeding (2010–2014)	max 850 birds	A4i
Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius	EN	resident (2010–2014)	present	A1
Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus	EN	resident (2010–2014)	2 pairs	A1
Southern Banded Snake-eagle Circaetus fasciolatus	NT	resident (2010–2014)	common	A1, A3
White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus	CR	resident (2010–2014)	6–8 pairs	A1
Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus	NT	resident (2010–2014)	present	A1
Mangrove Kingfisher Halcyon senegaloides	LC	resident (2010–2014)	common	A3
Brown-headed Parrot Poicephalus cryptoxanthus	LC	resident (2010–2014)	common	A3
Woodwards' Batis Batis fratrum	LC	resident (2010–2014)	common	A3
Gorgeous Bushshrike Telophorus viridis	LC	resident (2010–2014)	common	A3
Rudd's Apalis Apalis ruddi	LC	resident (2010–2014)	common	A2, A3
Black-bellied Starling Notopholia corusca	LC	resident (2010–2014)	common	A3
Spotted Ground-thrush Geokichla guttata	VU	non-breeding (2010–2014)	uncommon	A1
Mouse-coloured Sunbird Cyanomitra verreauxii	LC	resident (2010–2014)	common	A3
Neergaard's Sunbird Cinnyris neergaardi	NT	resident (2010–2014)	common	A1, A2, A3
Pink-throated Twinspot Hypargos margaritatus	LC	resident (2010–2014)	common	A2, A3
Lemon-breasted Canary Crithagra citrinipectus	LC	resident (2010–2014)	common	A2, A3
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	breeding (1998)	20,000-49,999 birds	A4iii
A4iii Species group - waterbirds	n/a	non-breeding (1998)	20,000-49,999 birds	A4iii

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2015. The most recent assessment (2014) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Shrubland	moderate (70–90%)	moderate (70–90%)	poor
Marine Intertidal	moderate (70–90%)	good (>90%)	moderate
Savanna	good (>90%)	good (>90%)	good
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	good (>90%)	good (>90%)	good
Wetlands (inland)	good (>90%)	good (>90%)	good
Marine Neritic	good (>90%)	good (>90%)	good
Forest	good (>90%)	good (>90%)	good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Biological resource use	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Natural system modifications	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Human intrusions and disturbance	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Pollution	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Residential and commercial development	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Climate change and severe weather	likely in short term (<4 years)	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Energy production and mining	happe­ning now	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Transportation and service corridors	happe­ning now	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
Whole area (>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 (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1999	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) (UA)	100

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Forest	major (>10)	Mangrove; Lowland forest - dry deciduous; Lowland forest - riparian; Lowland forest - undifferentiated; Lowland forest - mixed swamp
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	major (>10)
Marine Intertidal	major (>10)
Marine Neritic	major (>10)
Savanna	major (>10)	Wooded grassland
Shrubland	major (>10)	Scrub - woodland
Wetlands (inland)	minor (<10)	Rivers & streams

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: iSimangaliso Wetland Park (South Africa). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/isimangaliso-wetland-park-iba-south-africa on 23/12/2024.