Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2012 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rüppell's Vulture Gyps rueppelli | CR | resident (2002–2009) | 150–200 adults | A1 |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2012. The most recent assessment (2023) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2023 | poor | very high | 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 |
| Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | moderate (70–90%) | moderate (70–90%) | poor |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Climate change and severe weather | happening now | whole of population/area (>90%) | rapid decline (>30% over 3 generations) | very high |
| Transportation and service corridors | happening now | whole of population/area (>90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Biological resource use | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Energy production and mining | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Residential and commercial development | likely in short term (<4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Pollution | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | low |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | low |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | 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 |
| Most of area (50–90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species) | A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species | Very little or no conservation action taking place | low |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 90 |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| rangeland/pastureland | 80 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kwenia (Kenya). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kwenia-iba-kenya on 26/12/2024.