Anysberg Nature Reserve (100708)
South Africa, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, B1, B2, B3a, B3b, B4, E
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Anysberg Nature Reserve
Central coordinates: Latitude: -33.4764, Longitude: 20.5953
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 575 to 1457
Area of KBA (km2): 803.06565
Protected area coverage (%): 98.99
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: Anysberg Nature Reserve is a terrestrial site that is fully protected, found in the Western Cape, South Africa. More than half of this site occurs on flat or undulating landscapes dominated by a mosaic of Karoo shrublands. The southern and northern parts of the KBA are occupied by fynbos and renosterveld with steep to very steep, mostly north-facing slopes, deeply dissected in parts on east-west-trending rugged mountain ranges. Structurally this is mainly asteraceous, proteoid and restioid fynbos. Graminoid fynbos is rare. In the low mountainous parts, parallel hills and mid-altitude plateaus support a low, open to medium dense, leptophyllous shrubland with a medium dense matrix of short, divaricate shrubs, dominated by renosterbos. Heuweltjies are present at low densities in places. On low flat mountains and parallel ridges in a west-east orientation vegetation consists of narrow, linear bands. It is a medium dense, medium tall asteraceous and proteoid fynbos shrubland, although restioid fynbos is also present. Gentle and steep southern slopes south of quartzitic outcrops are covered by moderately tall and dense proteoid shrubland. Transitions with Succulent Karoo units can be observed at lower altitudes.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for 3 criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. Based on current available information, 29 species meet one or more KBA criteria for this site. The KBA trigger species at this site include birds, fish, and plants. The site meets criterion A1 due to the presence of significant proportions of the global populations of 5 threatened species. The site regularly holds 14 individual geographically restricted species, therefore meeting criterion B1. Assemblages of co-occurring range-restricted species in the Caryophyllales, Ericales, and Sapindales taxonomic groups regularly present within the site meet criterion B2. Co-occurring species endemic to the Fynbos terrestrial bioregion present at the site meet criterion B3. A quantitative analysis of irreplaceability indicate that the site is 100% irreplaceable for the global persistence of 6 species, therefore meeting criterion E. The site holds a significant proportion of the global extent of 1 geographically restricted ecosystem (meeting criterion B4).
Manageability of the site: The site is managed primarily by a provincial protected area management authority.
Supersedes another site: Anysberg Nature Reserve ZA087 [100%]
Delineation rationale: Delination follows protected area boundaries, with sections of a formerly recognised important Bird and Biodiversity Area also considered.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Shrubland (99%)
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Ongoing | |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Scale Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: Gavin Masterson (Fathom Data), Warrick Stewart (Resilience Environmental Advice), Anisha Dayaram (South African National Biodiversity Institute), Maphale Monyeki (South African National Biodiversity Institute), Sediqa Khatieb (South African National Biodiversity Institute), Craig Hilton-Taylor (IUCN)