ZA065
Umtamvuna Nature Reserve


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
Knysna Turaco Tauraco corythaix LC resident 1998 present A2, A3
Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres VU resident - 40-48 breeding pairs A1, A4ii
Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres VU non-breeding - 100-150 individuals A1, A4ii
Black Harrier Circus maurus EN resident - present A1
Knysna Woodpecker Campethera notata NT resident 1998 present A1, A2
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
Spotted Ground-thrush Geokichla guttata VU non-breeding - present A1
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
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

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 (2014) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2014 favourable high medium
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 good (> 90%) good (> 90%) favourable
Forest good (> 90%) good (> 90%) favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happening now whole area/population (>90%) slow but significant deterioration high
Biological resource use happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) slow but significant deterioration low
Natural system modifications happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) slow but significant deterioration low
Residential and commercial development happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) slow but significant deterioration low
Transportation and service corridors happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) slow but significant deterioration low
Human intrusions and disturbance happening now small area/few individuals (<10%) no or imperceptible deterioration low

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 Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity medium

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation % overlap with IBA
1971 Umtamvuna Nature Reserve Nature Reserve 100

Habitats

Habitat1 Habitat detail % of IBA
Forest 84
Artificial/Terrestrial 15
Grassland -
1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use

Land use % of IBA
nature conservation and research 100
agriculture -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Umtamvuna Nature Reserve (South Africa). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/umtamvuna-nature-reserve-iba-south-africa on 23/11/2024.