ZW003
Stapleford Forest


IBA Justification

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
Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus VU resident 1983 1 breeding pairs A1
Olive Bushshrike Chlorophoneus olivaceus LC resident 1998 present A3
White-tailed Crested-flycatcher Elminia albonotata LC resident 1998 present A3
Briar Warbler Oreophilais robertsi LC resident 1998 present A2, A3
Chirinda Apalis Apalis chirindensis VU resident 1998 present A2, A3
Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea EN breeding 1998 present A1, A3
Stripe-cheeked Bulbul Arizelocichla milanjensis NT resident 1998 present A3
Yellow-throated Woodland-warbler Phylloscopus ruficapilla LC resident 1998 present A3
Orange Ground-thrush Geokichla gurneyi LC resident 1998 present A3
White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata LC resident 1998 present A3
Swynnerton's Robin Swynnertonia swynnertoni VU resident 1998 present A1, A2, A3
Gurney's Sugarbird Promerops gurneyi NT resident 1998 present A3
Bronze Sunbird Nectarinia kilimensis LC resident 1998 present A3
Red-faced Crimsonwing Cryptospiza reichenovii LC resident 1998 present A3

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (1998) may differ.


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 (2011) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2011 unfavourable high medium
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
no habitat good

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

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) slow but significant deterioration high
Human intrusions and disturbance happening now some of area/population (10-49%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Biological resource use happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Pollution happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium

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 management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive Some limited conservation initiatives are in place medium

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation % overlap with IBA
1928 Stapleford State Forest 100

Habitats

Habitat1 Habitat detail % of IBA
Forest 100
Grassland Grassland - montane minor (<10)
Wetlands (inland) Rivers & streams minor (<10)
1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use

Land use % of IBA
agriculture -
forestry -
water management -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Stapleford Forest (Zimbabwe). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/stapleford-forest-iba-zimbabwe on 22/11/2024.