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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus | VU | resident (-) | 10 pairs | A1 |
| Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus | VU | resident (-) | 1 pairs | A1 |
| Ground Woodpecker Geocolaptes olivaceus | NT | resident (-) | present | A1 |
| Drakensberg Rockjumper Chaetops aurantius | NT | resident (1998) | present | A1 |
| Buff-streaked Chat Campicoloides bifasciatus | LC | resident (1998) | present | A1 |
| Yellow-breasted Pipit Hemimacronyx chloris | VU | resident (1998) | present | A1 |
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 | good | high | high |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | habitat | medium | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' populations) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Actual vs Reference (units) | % remaining | Result | ||
| Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus | 5 / 10 (pairs) | 50 | poor | ||
| Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus | 2 / 2 (pairs) | 100 | good | ||
| Ground Woodpecker Geocolaptes olivaceus | 10 / 10 (pairs) | 100 | not assessed | ||
| Drakensberg Rockjumper Chaetops aurantius | 30 / 30 (birds) | 100 | not assessed | ||
| Buff-streaked Chat Campicoloides bifasciatus | 20 / 20 (pairs) | 100 | not assessed | ||
| Yellow-breasted Pipit Hemimacronyx chloris | 5 / 5 (pairs) | 100 | not assessed | ||
| State (condition of the trigger species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Grassland | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | good |
| Wetlands (inland) | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | good |
| 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%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| 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 |
| Climate change and severe weather | likely in long term (>4 years) | whole of population/area (>90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Biological resource use | likely in long term (>4 years) | 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 |
| 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 | The conservation measures needed for the site are being comprehensively and effectively implemented | high |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Umgeni Vlei | Provincial Nature Reserve (-) | 99 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | - | Woodland - mixed |
| Grassland | - | Grassland - edaphic, wet |
| Wetlands (inland) | - | Montane bogs, swamps and mires |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| nature conservation and research | 100 |
| water management | 60 |
| tourism/recreation | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Umgeni Vlei Nature Reserve (South Africa). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/umgeni-vlei-nature-reserve-iba-south-africa on 23/12/2024.