Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2006 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica | LC | winter (2004–2006) | 1,000,000–3,000,000 individuals | A4ii |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2006. The most recent assessment (2014) is shown below.
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2014 | very unfavourable | very high | low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | habitat | medium | |
| State (condition of the key species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Wetlands (inland) | moderate (70–90%) | poor (40–69%) | very unfavourable |
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | whole population/area (>90%) | rapid deterioration (>30% over 3 generations) | very high |
| Natural system modifications | happening now | whole population/area (>90%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Pollution | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | high |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Transportation and service corridors | happening now | whole population/area (>90%) | no deterioration (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Residential and commercial development | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | no deterioration (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Little/none of site covered (<10%) | A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species | Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity | low |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (inland) | - | Permanent herbaceous swamps and bogs |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mount Moreland (South Africa). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mount-moreland-iba-south-africa on 15/01/2025.