KE002
Kianyaga valleys


IBA Justification

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 1999 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
Hinde's Babbler Turdoides hindei VU resident (1999) present A1, A2

IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1999. The most recent assessment (2023) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2023 very poor high very low
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes habitat good

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat Quantity (% remaining) Quality (% carrying capacity) Result
Artificial/Terrestrial poor (40–69%) poor (40–69%) very poor
Savanna poor (40–69%) poor (40–69%) very poor
Forest moderate (70–90%) moderate (70–90%) poor
Wetlands (inland) moderate (70–90%) moderate (70–90%) poor

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Transportation and service corridors happe­ning now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) high
Natural system modifications happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Climate change and severe weather happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Agricultural expansion and intensification happe­ning now 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%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Biological resource use happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Pollution happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Little/none of area covered (<10%) No management planning has taken place Some limited conservation initiatives are in place very low

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Forest 97
Shrubland 2
Artificial/Terrestrial - Arable land; Farmbush, fallow & ruderal land
Savanna - Bushland & thicket - evergreen
Wetlands (inland) - Rivers & streams

Land use

Land use % of IBA
agriculture 100


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kianyaga valleys (Kenya). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kianyaga-valleys-iba-kenya on 23/12/2024.