KE039
Kusa swamp


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important 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 List1 Season Year(s) Size IBA criteria
Papyrus Gonolek Laniarius mufumbiri NT resident 1999 present A1, A3
Carruthers's Cisticola Cisticola carruthersi LC resident 1999 present A3
White-winged Swamp-warbler Bradypterus carpalis LC resident 1999 present A3
Red-chested Sunbird Cinnyris erythrocercus LC resident 1999 present A3

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (1999) may differ.


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 unfavourable high negligible
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
Wetlands (inland) moderate (70-90%) moderate (70-90%) unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Energy production and mining happening now some of area/population (10-49%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Biological resource use happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Agricultural expansion and intensification happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) slow but significant deterioration high
Transportation and service corridors happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) slow but significant deterioration high
Residential and commercial development happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Pollution happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Climate change and severe weather happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas Management plan Other action Result
Little/none of site covered (<10%) No management planning has taken place Very little or no conservation action taking place negligible

Habitats

Habitat1 Habitat detail % of IBA
Wetlands (inland) Permanent herbaceous swamps and bogs, Rivers & streams 100
1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use

Land use % of IBA
agriculture -
fisheries/aquaculture -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kusa swamp (Kenya). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kusa-swamp-iba-kenya on 23/11/2024.