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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Blue Bustard Eupodotis caerulescens | NT | resident (-) | present | A1 |
Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus | NT | resident (-) | present | A1, A3 |
Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres | VU | resident (-) | present | A1 |
Ground Woodpecker Geocolaptes olivaceus | NT | resident (-) | present | A1 |
Rudd's Lark Heteromirafra ruddi | EN | resident (1998) | present | A1, A3 |
Bush Blackcap Sylvia nigricapillus | VU | resident (1998) | present | A1, A2, A3 |
Buff-streaked Chat Campicoloides bifasciatus | LC | resident (1998) | present | A1, A3 |
Gurney's Sugarbird Promerops gurneyi | NT | resident (1998) | present | A3 |
Forest Canary Crithagra scotops | LC | resident (1998) | present | A2, A3 |
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 | very 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%) | poor (40–69%) | very poor |
Wetlands (inland) | good (>90%) | poor (40–69%) | poor |
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | good |
Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
Residential and commercial development | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
Natural system modifications | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
Human intrusions and disturbance | likely in short term (<4 years) | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | low |
Transportation and service corridors | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
Biological resource use | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
Pollution | likely in short term (<4 years) | 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 comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species | Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity | high |
Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
---|---|---|
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | minor (<10) | |
Grassland | - | Grassland - montane |
Wetlands (inland) | - | Rivers & streams |
Land use | % of IBA |
---|---|
water management | 60 |
nature conservation and research | 14 |
agriculture | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve (South Africa). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sterkfontein-dam-nature-reserve-iba-south-africa on 22/12/2024.