Data Zone
The site was identified as important 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 List1 | Season | Year(s) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata | LC | passage | 2001-2006 | 412 individuals | B1i, C3 |
| Gadwall Mareca strepera | LC | passage | 2001-2006 | 555 individuals | B1i, C3 |
| Gadwall Mareca strepera | LC | winter | 2001-2006 | 704 individuals | B1i, C3 |
| Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris | LC | winter | 2003-2007 | 4 individuals | C6 |
1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2007) may differ.
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 | unfavourable | medium | low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | population | good | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Reference | Actual | Units | % remaining | Result |
| Gadwall Mareca strepera | 300 | 704 | individuals | 100 | favourable |
| Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris | 7 | 4 | individuals | 58 | unfavourable |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Pollution | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Natural system modifications | likely in short term (within 4 years) | small area/few individuals (<10%) | slow but significant deterioration | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected areas | Management plan | Other action | Result |
| Some of site covered (10-49%) | A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive | Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity | low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 | % overlap with IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Walthamstow Marshes | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 1 |
| 1986 | Chingford Reservoirs | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 22 |
| 1986 | Walthamstow Reservoirs | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 10 |
| 1986 | Waltham Abbey | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 1 |
| 1989 | Rye Meads | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 3 |
| 1993 | Lee Valley | Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) | 26 |
| 1994 | Rye Meads | Nature Reserve | 1 |
| 1995 | Turnford & Cheshunt Pits | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 10 |
| 1999 | Amwell Quarry | Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK) | 2 |
| 2000 | Lee Valley | Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance | 26 |
| Habitat1 | Habitat detail | % of IBA |
|---|---|---|
| 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 23/11/2024.