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The site was identified as important in 1998 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
Ludwig's Bustard Neotis ludwigii	EN	resident	1998	present	A3
Karoo Bustard Heterotetrax vigorsii	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea	VU	winter	-	2,131-5,362 individuals	A4i
Karoo Lark Calendulauda albescens	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Namaqua Warbler Phragmacia substriata	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Layard's Warbler Curruca layardi	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Karoo Chat Emarginata schlegelii	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Sickle-winged Chat Emarginata sinuata	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Tractrac Chat Emarginata tractrac	LC	resident	1998	present	A3
Black-headed Canary Serinus alario	LC	resident	1998	present	A3

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (1998) may differ.

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1998. The most recent assessment (2014) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Marine Neritic	good (> 90%)	moderate (70-90%)	near favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Residential and commercial development	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Energy production and mining	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Transportation and service corridors	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Natural system modifications	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Pollution	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Climate change and severe weather	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Biological resource use	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other 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	Some limited conservation initiatives are in place	low

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Marine Neritic		major (>10)
Shrubland	Shrubland - succulent Karroo	major (>10)
Marine Intertidal		minor (<10)
Wetlands (inland)	Permanent herbaceous swamps and bogs, Rivers & streams	minor (<10)

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	60
urban/industrial/transport	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Olifants river estuary (South Africa). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/olifants-river-estuary-iba-south-africa on 23/11/2024.