Data Zone
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus | LC | non-breeding (1992) | 2,580 birds | A4i |
| Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens | LC | non-breeding (1992) | 1,060 birds | A4i |
| Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula | LC | winter (1992) | 13,600 birds | A4i |
| Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius | LC | non-breeding (1992) | 8,600 birds | A4i |
| Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus | LC | winter (1992) | 500 birds | A4i |
| Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus | LC | non-breeding (1992) | 6,930 birds | A4i |
| Little Stint Calidris minuta | LC | winter (1992) | 113,000 birds | A4i |
| A4iii Species group - waterbirds | n/a | non-breeding (1992) | 100,000-499,999 birds | A4iii |
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 | poor | very 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 |
| Wetlands (inland) | moderate (70–90%) | moderate (70–90%) | poor |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | whole of population/area (>90%) | rapid decline (>30% over 3 generations) | very high |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | whole of population/area (>90%) | rapid decline (>30% over 3 generations) | very high |
| Pollution | likely in short term (<4 years) | whole of population/area (>90%) | rapid decline (>30% over 3 generations) | very high |
| Biological resource use | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Natural system modifications | likely in short term (<4 years) | most of population/area (50–90%) | rapid decline (>30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Transportation and service corridors | likely in long term (>4 years) | whole of population/area (>90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Climate change and severe weather | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Energy production and mining | likely in long term (>4 years) | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Residential and commercial development | likely in long term (>4 years) | 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 |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Sibiloi | National Park (II) | 1 |
| 1983 | South Island | National Park (II) | 1 |
| 1983 | Central Island | National Park (II) | <1 |
| 1997 | Lake Turkana National Parks | World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) (UA) | 21 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (inland) | 100 | Saline lakes |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| fisheries/aquaculture | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lake Turkana (Kenya). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lake-turkana-iba-kenya on 22/12/2024.