Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2007 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 412 birds | B1i, C3 |
| Gadwall Mareca strepera | LC | passage (2001–2006) | 555 birds | B1i, C3 |
| Gadwall Mareca strepera | LC | winter (2001–2006) | 704 birds | B1i, C3 |
| Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris | LC | winter (2003–2007) | 4 birds | C6 |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2007. The most recent assessment (2007) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2007 | poor | medium | low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | population | good | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| Gadwall Mareca strepera | 704 / 300 (birds) | 100 | good | ||
| Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris | 4 / 7 (birds) | 58 | poor | ||
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Pollution | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Natural system modifications | likely in short term (<4 years) | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Some of area covered (10–49%) | A management plan exists, but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity | low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Walthamstow Marshes | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 1 |
| 1986 | Chingford Reservoirs | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 22 |
| 1986 | Walthamstow Reservoirs | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 10 |
| 1986 | Waltham Abbey | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 1 |
| 1989 | Rye Meads | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 3 |
| 1994 | Rye Meads | Nature Reserve (IV) | 1 |
| 1995 | Turnford & Cheshunt Pits | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 10 |
| 1999 | Amwell Quarry | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) (IV) | 2 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | - | Humid grasslands |
| Wetlands (inland) | - | Standing freshwater; Rivers and streams; Fens, transition mires and springs |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| fisheries/aquaculture | - |
| military | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
| urban/industrial/transport | - |
| water management | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lea Valley (United Kingdom). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lea-valley-iba-united-kingdom on 24/12/2024.