KE018
Mrima Hill Forest


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important 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 List1 Season Year(s) Size IBA criteria
Fischer's Turaco Tauraco fischeri NT resident 1999 present A1, A3
Eastern Green Tinkerbird Pogoniulus simplex LC resident 1999 present A3
Mombasa Woodpecker Campethera mombassica LC resident 1999 present A3
Green-headed Oriole Oriolus chlorocephalus LC resident 1999 present A3
Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike Prionops scopifrons LC resident 1999 present A3
Fischer's Greenbul Phyllastrephus fischeri LC resident 1999 present A3
Lowland Tiny Greenbul Phyllastrephus debilis LC resident 1999 present A3
Little Yellow Flycatcher Erythrocercus holochlorus LC resident 1999 present A3
Black-bellied Starling Notopholia corusca LC resident 1999 present A3
Spotted Ground-thrush Geokichla guttata VU non-breeding 1999 present A1
Plain-backed Sunbird Anthreptes reichenowi NT resident 1999 present A1, A3

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (1999) may differ.


IBA Conservation

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 favourable very high medium
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
Forest good (> 90%) good (> 90%) favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Energy production and mining likely in short term (within 4 years) whole area/population (>90%) very rapid to severe deterioration very high
Climate change and severe weather happening now whole area/population (>90%) slow but significant deterioration high
Residential and commercial development happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Biological resource use past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration low
Natural system modifications likely in long term (beyond 4 years) small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Agricultural expansion and intensification happening now whole area/population (>90%) no or imperceptible deterioration low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas Management plan Other action Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species Some limited conservation initiatives are in place medium

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation % overlap with IBA
1961 Mrima Forest Reserve 100
1992 Mrima Hill Sacred Grove National Monument Other Area -

Habitats

Habitat1 Habitat detail % of IBA
Forest Lowland forest - undifferentiated -
1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use

Land use % of IBA
forestry -
nature conservation and research -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mrima Hill Forest (Kenya). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mrima-hill-forest-iba-kenya on 23/11/2024.