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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 IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key 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 key species' populations)
Species	Actual vs Reference (units)	% remaining	Result
Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumenifer	8 / 8 (breeding pairs)	100	favourable
White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus	23 / 10 (breeding pairs)	100	favourable
Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos	4 / 2 (breeding pairs)	100	favourable

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

Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Human intrusions and disturbance	happen­ing now	whole popul­ation/area (>90%)	slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Biological resource use	happen­ing now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	moderate deteri­oration (10–30% in 3 gener­ations)	high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happen­ing now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Pollution	happen­ing now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Climate change and severe weather	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	whole popul­ation/area (>90%)	moderate deteri­oration (10–30% in 3 gener­ations)	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happen­ing now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	no deteri­oration (<1% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Natural system modifications	happen­ing now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	no deteri­oration (<1% over 3 gener­ations)	low
Transportation and service corridors	happen­ing now	few individ­uals/small area (<10%)	slow deteri­oration (1–10% 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	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 (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Phongolo Nature Reserve (South Africa). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/phongolo-nature-reserve-iba-south-africa on 19/01/2025.