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• Reference and further resources

The site was identified as important in 2022 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 List1	Season	Year(s)	Size	IBA criteria
Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum	EN	resident	2018-2022	2-30 individuals	A1
Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius	EN	resident	2021	6-36 individuals	A1
Scissor-tailed Kite Chelictinia riocourii	VU	resident	2021	10-52 individuals	A1
Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus	EN	resident	1999-2022	2-32 individuals	A1
White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis	CR	resident	2021-2022	12-30 individuals	A1
Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus	CR	resident	2021	100-200 individuals	A1
White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus	CR	resident	2021-2022	20-100 individuals	A1
Rüppell's Vulture Gyps rueppelli	CR	resident	2021	100-200 individuals	A1
Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus	EN	resident	2021	6-26 individuals	A1
Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax	VU	resident	2021	20-40 individuals	A1
Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis	EN	winter	2021	4-32 individuals	A1

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2022) may differ.

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2022. The most recent assessment (2023) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Forest	moderate (70-90%)	moderate (70-90%)	unfavourable
Grassland	moderate (70-90%)	good (> 90%)	near favourable
Wetlands (inland)	good (> 90%)	moderate (70-90%)	near favourable
Artificial/Terrestrial	good (> 90%)	good (> 90%)	favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Biological resource use	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	high
Natural system modifications	likely in short term (within 4 years)	whole area/population (>90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Pollution	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Climate change and severe weather	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Residential and commercial development	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Transportation and service corridors	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Agricultural expansion and intensification	past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting	whole area/population (>90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Whole area of site (>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

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Forest	Montane forest - mixed	66
Artificial/Terrestrial	Arable land, Farmbush, fallow & ruderal land, Perennial crops, orchards and groves	22
Savanna	Bushland & thicket - evergreen	11
Grassland	Grassland - Semi-desert	1
Wetlands (inland)	Freshwater lakes and pools, Artificial wetlands	minor (<10)

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
forestry	100

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kirisia Forest (Kenya). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kirisia-forest-iba-kenya on 22/11/2024.