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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 1998 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
Ludwig's Bustard Neotis ludwigii	EN	resident (1998)	present	A3
Karoo Bustard Heterotetrax vigorsii	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3
Ground Woodpecker Geocolaptes olivaceus	NT	resident (-)	present	A1
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni	LC	winter (-)	1,000–3,000 birds	A1, A4ii
Karoo Long-billed Lark Certhilauda subcoronata	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3
Black-eared Sparrow-lark Eremopterix australis	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3
Karoo Lark Calendulauda albescens	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3
Sclater's Lark Spizocorys sclateri	NT	resident (1998)	present	A3
Karoo Eremomela Eremomela gregalis	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3
Namaqua Warbler Phragmacia substriata	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3
Cinnamon-breasted Warbler Euryptila subcinnamomea	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3
Layard's Warbler Curruca layardi	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3
Pale-winged Starling Onychognathus nabouroup	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3
Karoo Chat Emarginata schlegelii	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3
Sickle-winged Chat Emarginata sinuata	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3
Tractrac Chat Emarginata tractrac	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3
Black-headed Canary Serinus alario	LC	resident (1998)	present	A3

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1998. The most recent assessment (2014) is shown below.

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

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Climate change and severe weather	likely in long term (>4 years)	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Residential and commercial development	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Human intrusions and disturbance	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Agricultural expansion and intensification	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
Biological resource use	happe­ning now	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Energy production and mining	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
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	Not assessed	medium

The Local Conservation Group(s) listed below are working to conserve this IBA.

Name	Year formed
Karoo National Park Honorary Officers	0

For more information on BirdLife's work with Local Conservation Groups, please visit Spotlight on local empowerment.

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Shrubland	-	Shrubland - Cape (fynbos); Shrubland - dwarf Karroo

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	100
forestry	1

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