Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 1999 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Banded Snake-eagle Circaetus fasciolatus | NT | resident (1999) | present | A1 |
| Taita Falcon Falco fasciinucha | VU | resident (-) | present | A1 |
| Taita Apalis Apalis fuscigularis | CR | resident (1999) | present | A1, A2 |
| Taita White-eye Zosterops silvanus | VU | resident (1998) | 1,500 birds | A1, A2 |
| Abbott's Starling Arizelopsar femoralis | EN | resident (1999) | present | A1 |
| Taita Thrush Turdus helleri | EN | resident (1999) | present | A1, A2 |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1999. The most recent assessment (2023) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2023 | poor | high | high |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | habitat | good | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Forest | 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 | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Climate change and severe weather | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | 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%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | few individuals/small area (<10%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | low |
| Pollution | 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 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | Kichuchenyi | Forest Reserve (-) | <1 |
| - | Mbololo | Nature Reserve (IV) | - |
| - | Ngerenyi | Forest Reserve (-) | <1 |
| - | Yale | Forest Reserve (-) | <1 |
| - | Sagalla | Forest Reserve (-) | <1 |
| - | Ngangao | Forest Reserve (-) | <1 |
| - | Chaiwa | Forest Reserve (-) | <1 |
| - | Vurai | Forest Reserve (-) | <1 |
| 1991 | Mwachora | Forest Reserve (-) | <1 |
| 1991 | Macha | Forest Reserve (-) | <1 |
| 1991 | Fururu | Forest Reserve (-) | <1 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial/Terrestrial | - | Forestry & agro-industrial plantations |
| Forest | - | Mid-altitude forest - transitional |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| forestry | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
| urban/industrial/transport | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Taita Hills Forests (Kenya). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/taita-hills-forests-iba-kenya on 23/12/2024.