TZ038
Usangu flats


IBA Justification

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2001 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
Black-faced Sandgrouse Pterocles decoratus LC resident (2000) present A3
Coppery-tailed Coucal Centropus cupreicaudus LC resident (2000) present A3
Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus VU non-breeding (1995) 12 birds A1
Buff-crested Bustard Lophotis gindiana LC resident (2000) present A3
White-bellied Go-away-bird Criniferoides leucogaster LC resident (2000) present A3
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola LC non-breeding (1995) 1,500 birds A4i
Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni NT winter (-) 150 birds A1, A4i
Eastern Chanting-goshawk Melierax poliopterus LC resident (2000) present A3
Von der Decken's Hornbill Tockus deckeni LC resident (2000) present A3
Abyssinian Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus minor LC resident (2000) present A3
Racquet-tailed Roller Coracias spatulatus LC resident (2000) present A3
Emin's Barbet Trachyphonus emini LC resident (2000) present A3
Yellow-collared Lovebird Agapornis personatus LC resident (2000) present A3
Long-tailed Fiscal Lanius cabanisi LC resident (2000) present A3
Grey Wren-warbler Calamonastes simplex LC resident (2000) present A3
Miombo Wren-warbler Calamonastes undosus LC resident (2000) present A3
Tabora Cisticola Cisticola angusticauda LC resident (2000) present A3
Banded Warbler Curruca boehmi LC resident (2000) present A3
Ashy Starling Lamprotornis unicolor LC resident (2000) present A3
Kurrichane Thrush Turdus libonyana LC resident (2000) present A3
African Grey Flycatcher Bradornis microrhynchus LC resident (2000) present A3
Miombo Rock-thrush Monticola angolensis LC resident (2000) present A3
Arnot's Chat Myrmecocichla arnotti LC resident (2000) present A3
Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird Anthreptes orientalis LC resident (2000) present A3
Shelley's Sunbird Cinnyris shelleyi LC resident (2000) present A3
Western Miombo Sunbird Cinnyris gertrudis LC resident (2000) present A3
White-headed Buffalo-Weaver Dinemellia dinemelli LC resident (2000) present A3
Purple Grenadier Granatina ianthinogaster LC resident (2000) present A3
Blue-capped Cordon-bleu Uraeginthus cyanocephalus LC resident (2000) present A3
Black-cheeked Waxbill Brunhilda charmosyna LC resident (2000) present A3
Grey-headed Silverbill Spermestes griseicapilla LC resident (2000) present A3
Broad-tailed Paradise-whydah Vidua obtusa LC resident (2000) present A3
Steel-blue Whydah Vidua hypocherina LC resident (2000) present A3
Swahili Sparrow Passer suahelicus LC resident (2000) present A3

IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2001. The most recent assessment (2009) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2009 poor very high low
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
Grassland moderate (70–90%) moderate (70–90%) poor

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 of popul­ation/area (>90%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) very high
Agricultural expansion and intensification happe­ning now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations) very high
Human intrusions and disturbance happe­ning now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Natural system modifications happe­ning now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) high
Residential and commercial development happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Biological resource use happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Pollution 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
Transportation and service corridors happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Some of area covered (10–49%) 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 low

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
- Usangu Game Reserve (-) -
1964 Ruaha National Park National Park (II) 28

Local Conservation Groups

The Local Conservation Group(s) listed below are working to conserve this IBA.

Name Year formed
Usangu Site Support Group 1999
For more information on BirdLife's work with Local Conservation Groups, please visit Spotlight on local empowerment.

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Grassland 49
Artificial/Terrestrial 37
Shrubland 10
Forest 2

Land use

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


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Usangu flats (Tanzania). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/usangu-flats-iba-tanzania on 22/12/2024.