Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2016 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus | EN | resident (2006–2016) | present | A1 |
| Hinde's Babbler Turdoides hindei | VU | resident (2006–2016) | 250-999 adults | A1, A2 |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2016. The most recent assessment (2023) is shown below.
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2023 | unfavourable | very high | low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | habitat | good | |
| State (condition of the key species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Forest | moderate (70–90%) | moderate (70–90%) | unfavourable |
| Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | moderate (70–90%) | moderate (70–90%) | unfavourable |
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | rapid deterioration (>30% over 3 generations) | very high |
| Climate change and severe weather | likely in short term (within 4 years) | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | high |
| Natural system modifications | likely in short term (within 4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | rapid deterioration (>30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Residential and commercial development | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | no deterioration (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | No management plan exists, but the management planning process has begun | Not assessed | low |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 80 | Lowland forest - dry evergreen; Montane forest - mixed |
| Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 20 | Scree, boulders & bare rock |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| forestry | 70 |
| nature conservation and research | 15 |
| tourism/recreation | 15 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mutitu Forest (Kenya). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mutitu-forest-iba-kenya on 08/01/2025.