Mukurweini valleys (Kenya) IBA | Summary

KE006

Mukurweini valleys This is an IBA in Danger!

Current view: summary

Country/territory: Kenya

IBA criteria met: A1, A2 (1999)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 110,000 hectares (1,100.00 km²)

NatureKenya

IBA conservation status
Year of assessment (most recent)	State (condition)	Pressure (threat)	Response (action)
2023	very poor	high	very low
For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here

Site summary

This IBA extends on the lower south-east slopes of the Aberdare Mountains (IBA KE 001) and to the far south west of Mount Kenya forest (IBA KE 002) in Nyeri County. These valleys are important for the conservation the Hinde's Babbler (Turdoides hindei), a globally threatened, and range restricted bird species endemic to Kenya. The Mukurweini Valleys with an estimated area of 110,000 ha falls within privately owned lands which are mainly farmlands with small scale farming of coffee and other subsistence crops. Besides the Hinde’s Babbler, the Mukurweini Valleys hosts more than 265 bird species, (eBird, 2023) among other taxonomic groups. The valleys are characterized by with vegetated stream and river courses. Dense thickets dominated by an invasive plant species, Lantana camara native to Americas provide suitable habitat for the Hinde's Babbler.

Given the unprotected nature of the IBA, with suitable habitats for Hinde's Babbler, the species has a severely fragmented and continuously declining population mainly driven by changes in land uses.

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge effort put forward by MEVO, local farmers, National Museums of Kenya, Nature Kenya, and Wildlife Clubs of Kenya among other stakeholders in ensuring that the IBA remains intact and its benefits are known.

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mukurweini valleys (Kenya). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mukurweini-valleys-iba-kenya on 22/12/2024.