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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
Cape Shoveler Spatula smithii	LC	non-breeding	-	337-506 individuals	A4i
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus	LC	non-breeding	-	54 individuals	A4i
African Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini	LC	non-breeding	-	present	A1
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta	LC	non-breeding	-	263-669 individuals	A4i
Hartlaub's Gull Larus hartlaubii	LC	breeding	-	150-375 breeding pairs	A4i
Hartlaub's Gull Larus hartlaubii	LC	non-breeding	-	543-1,102 individuals	A4i
Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus	LC	non-breeding	-	665 individuals	A4i

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' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Shrubland	poor (40-69%)	poor (40-69%)	very unfavourable
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	moderate (70-90%)	moderate (70-90%)	unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Pollution	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	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
Residential and commercial development	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
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Energy production and mining	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Biological resource use	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	no or imperceptible deterioration	low
Natural system modifications	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
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
1984	Rietvlei Nature Area	Nature Reserve	68
2000	Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve	UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve	97

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Marine Coastal/Supratidal		major (>10)
Marine Intertidal		major (>10)
Marine Neritic		major (>10)
Shrubland	Shrubland - Cape (fynbos)	major (>10)

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
nature conservation and research	94
tourism/recreation	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Rietvlei Wetland: Table Bay Nature Reserve (South Africa). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/rietvlei-wetland:-table-bay-nature-reserve-iba-south-africa on 23/11/2024.