ZA013
Songimvelo Nature Reserve


IBA Justification

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
Striped Flufftail Sarothrura affinis LC resident (1998) present A3
Blue Bustard Eupodotis caerulescens NT resident (-) present A1
Knysna Turaco Tauraco corythaix LC resident (1998) present A2, A3
Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus NT resident (1998) present A1, A3
Forest Buzzard Buteo trizonatus NT resident (1998) present A3
Grey Cuckooshrike Ceblepyris caesius LC resident (1998) present A3
Olive Bushshrike Chlorophoneus olivaceus LC resident (1998) present A3
Barratt's Warbler Bradypterus barratti LC resident (1998) present A3
Yellow-throated Woodland-warbler Phylloscopus ruficapilla LC resident (1998) present A3
Bush Blackcap Sylvia nigricapillus VU resident (1998) present A1, A2, A3
Orange Ground-thrush Geokichla gurneyi LC resident (1998) present A3
Brown Scrub-robin Tychaedon signata LC resident (1998) present A2
White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata LC resident (1998) present A3
Chorister Robin-chat Cossypha dichroa LC resident (1998) present A2, A3
Buff-streaked Chat Campicoloides bifasciatus LC resident (1998) present A1, A3
Gurney's Sugarbird Promerops gurneyi NT resident (1998) present A3
Swee Waxbill Coccopygia melanotis LC resident (1998) present A3
Forest Canary Crithagra scotops LC resident (1998) present A2, A3

IBA Conservation

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.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2013 poor very high low
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes habitat -

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

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Natural system modifications happe­ning now whole of popul­ation/area (>90%) rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations) very 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%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Residential and commercial development happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Agricultural expansion and intensification happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Energy production and mining happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Human intrusions and disturbance happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Pollution happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Geological events likely in short term (<4 years) some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Transportation and service corridors happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) no or slight decline (<1% 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 management plan exists, but it is out of date or not compre­hensive Very little or no conservation action taking place low

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Forest - Montane forest - mixed
Grassland - Grassland - highveld
Shrubland -

Land use

Land use % of IBA
nature conservation and research 100


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Songimvelo Nature Reserve (South Africa). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/songimvelo-nature-reserve-iba-south-africa on 22/12/2024.