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• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
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• Reference and further resources

The site was identified as important in 2015 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
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca	LC	non-breeding	2010-2011	1,000-2,499 individuals	A4i
South African Shelduck Tadorna cana	LC	non-breeding	2010-2011	1,000-2,499 individuals	A4i
Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata	LC	non-breeding	2010-2011	1,000-2,499 individuals	A4i
Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus	VU	non-breeding	2010-2014	100-300 individuals	A1
Ludwig's Bustard Neotis ludwigii	EN	resident	2010-2014	present	A1, A3
Karoo Bustard Heterotetrax vigorsii	LC	resident	2010-2014	present	A3
Blue Bustard Eupodotis caerulescens	NT	resident	2010-2014	present	A1
Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius	EN	resident	2010-2014	1 breeding pairs	A1
Melodious Lark Mirafra cheniana	LC	resident	2010-2014	present	A1
Namaqua Warbler Phragmacia substriata	LC	resident	2010-2014	present	A3
Layard's Warbler Curruca layardi	LC	resident	2010-2014	present	A3
Pale-winged Starling Onychognathus nabouroup	LC	resident	2010-2014	present	A3
Karoo Chat Emarginata schlegelii	LC	resident	2010-2014	present	A3
Sickle-winged Chat Emarginata sinuata	LC	resident	2010-2014	present	A3
Black-headed Canary Serinus alario	LC	resident	2010-2014	present	A3

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2015) may differ.

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2015. The most recent assessment (2014) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine	good (> 90%)	poor (40-69%)	unfavourable
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks)	good (> 90%)	poor (40-69%)	unfavourable
Wetlands (inland)	good (> 90%)	poor (40-69%)	unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Climate change and severe weather	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	whole area/population (>90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Energy production and mining	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Pollution	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Natural system modifications	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
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

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

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
1972	Tussen-die-Riviere Game Farm	Nature Reserve	22
1979	Gariep Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	32
1981	Oviston Nature Reserve	Nature Reserve	36
2001	Letsatsi Private Reserve	Nature Reserve	<1

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Artificial/Aquatic & Marine	Other artificial wetlands	-
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks)		-
Wetlands (inland)	Rivers & streams	-

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Upper Orange River (South Africa). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/upper-orange-river-iba-south-africa on 23/11/2024.