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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation 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 List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Rudd's Apalis Apalis ruddi	LC	resident (1998)	present	A2
Neergaard's Sunbird Cinnyris neergaardi	NT	resident (1998)	present	A1, A2
Pink-throated Twinspot Hypargos margaritatus	LC	resident (1998)	present	A2
Lemon-breasted Canary Crithagra citrinipectus	LC	resident (1998)	present	A2

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1998. The most recent assessment (2013) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species	Actual vs Reference (units)	% remaining	Result
Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumenifer	8 / 8 (pairs)	100	good
White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus	23 / 10 (pairs)	100	good
Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos	4 / 2 (pairs)	100	good

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Savanna	moderate (70–90%)	moderate (70–90%)	poor

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Human intrusions and disturbance	happe­ning now	whole of popul­ation/area (>90%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Biological resource use	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Pollution	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Climate change and severe weather	likely in long term (>4 years)	whole of popul­ation/area (>90%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Natural system modifications	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Transportation and service corridors	happe­ning now	few indivi­duals/small area (<10%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Whole area (>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	The conservation measures needed for the site are being compre­hensively and effectively implemented	high

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1979	Pongolapoort Dam	Nature Reserve (IV)	100

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Forest	-	Woodland - riparian
Savanna	-
Wetlands (inland)	-	Ephemeral pools and wetlands

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	100
water management	80
agriculture	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Phongolo Nature Reserve (South Africa). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/phongolo-nature-reserve-iba-south-africa on 23/12/2024.