Data Zone
The site was identified as important in 2016 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus | EN | resident | 2006-2016 | present | A1 |
| Hinde's Babbler Turdoides hindei | VU | resident | 2006-2016 | 250-999 adults | A1, A2 |
1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2016) may differ.
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 assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 trigger 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 trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | majority/most of area/population (50-90%) | very rapid to severe deterioration | very high |
| Natural system modifications | likely in short term (within 4 years) | some of area/population (10-49%) | very rapid to severe deterioration | high |
| Climate change and severe weather | likely in short term (within 4 years) | majority/most of area/population (50-90%) | moderate to rapid deterioration | high |
| Residential and commercial development | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of area/population (10-49%) | slow but significant deterioration | medium |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | majority/most of area/population (50-90%) | 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 | No management plan exists but the management planning process has begun | Not assessed | low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation | % overlap with IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Mutito | Forest Reserve | 12 |
| Habitat1 | Habitat detail | % of IBA |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | Lowland forest - dry evergreen, Montane forest - mixed | 80 |
| Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | Scree, boulders & bare rock | 20 |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| forestry | 70 |
| nature conservation and research | 15 |
| tourism/recreation | 15 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mutitu Forest (Kenya). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mutitu-forest-iba-kenya on 22/11/2024.