• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

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
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

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 (2013) is shown below.

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

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

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Biological resource use	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Climate change and severe weather	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	whole area/population (>90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Human intrusions and disturbance	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Pollution	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Natural system modifications	past (and unlikely to return) and no longer limiting	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	low
Transportation and service corridors	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	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	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	% overlap with IBA
1979	Pongolapoort Dam	Nature Reserve	100

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Forest	Woodland - riparian	-
Savanna		-
Wetlands (inland)	Ephemeral pools and wetlands	-

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

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

---

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 23/11/2024.