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

The site was identified as important 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 List1	Season	Year(s)	Size	IBA criteria
Papyrus Gonolek Laniarius mufumbiri	NT	resident	1999	present	A1, A3
Carruthers's Cisticola Cisticola carruthersi	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Papyrus Yellow Warbler Calamonastides gracilirostris	VU	resident	1999	present	A1, A3
White-winged Swamp-warbler Bradypterus carpalis	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Black-lored Babbler Turdoides sharpei	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Red-chested Sunbird Cinnyris erythrocercus	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Northern Brown-throated Weaver Ploceus castanops	LC	resident	1999	present	A3
Papyrus Canary Crithagra koliensis	LC	resident	1999	present	A3

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (1999) may differ.

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.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Wetlands (inland)	moderate (70-90%)	moderate (70-90%)	unfavourable

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

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Most of site (50-90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species)	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
2010	Lake Kanyaboli	National Reserve	20

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

Name	Year formed
Ecofinder Kenya	0
Freinds of Yala Swamp	2007
Yala Swamp Community Conservancy Organisation (Yasco)	2008
Yala swamp environment volunteers.	0

For more information on BirdLife's work with Local Conservation Groups, please click here.

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Wetlands (inland)	Freshwater lakes and pools, Permanent herbaceous swamps and bogs	100

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
fisheries/aquaculture	-
agriculture	-
other	-
water management	-

---

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Yala swamp complex (Kenya). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/yala-swamp-complex-iba-kenya on 23/11/2024.