Data Zone
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Shoveler Spatula smithii | LC | non-breeding (-) | 183–490 birds | A4i |
| Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis | LC | non-breeding (-) | 150–540 birds | A4i |
| Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus | LC | non-breeding (-) | 75 birds | A4i |
| Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus | LC | non-breeding (-) | 760–1,632 birds | A4i |
| Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor | NT | non-breeding (-) | frequent | A1 |
| African Spoonbill Platalea alba | LC | non-breeding (-) | 67–193 birds | A4i |
| African Darter Anhinga rufa | LC | non-breeding (-) | 273–610 birds | A4i |
| Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta | LC | non-breeding (-) | 271–716 birds | A4i |
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.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2014 | poor | high | high |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | habitat | medium | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Grassland | moderate (70–90%) | moderate (70–90%) | poor |
| Wetlands (inland) | good (>90%) | moderate (70–90%) | moderate |
| Forest | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | good |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Pollution | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Residential and commercial development | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Transportation and service corridors | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Most of area (50–90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species) | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Bloemhof Dam | Nature Reserve (IV) | 40 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | - | Woodland - mixed |
| Grassland | - | Grassland - Semi-desert |
| Wetlands (inland) | - | Artificial wetlands |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | 100 |
| water management | 80 |
| fisheries/aquaculture | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sandveld and Bloemhof Dam Nature Reserves (South Africa). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sandveld-and-bloemhof-dam-nature-reserves-iba-south-africa on 23/12/2024.