Blouberg (100731)
South Africa, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, A1e, B1, B2, B3a, B4, D1a, E
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Blouberg
Central coordinates: Latitude: -23.1542, Longitude: 28.9358
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 837 to 1734
Area of KBA (km2): 713.67285
Protected area coverage (%): 23.77
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: Blouberg is a terrestrial site with substantial protection and OECM coverage, found in Limpopo, South Africa. The central portion of the site is composed of mountains, highest in the west, splitting into increasing number of lower mountain ridges towards the east. The topography of the east-west- orientated ridges of the mountain changes drastically over short distances, resulting in orographic rain on the southern ridges, and a rainshadow effect on the northern ridges. Because of this topographic diversity, the vegetation comprises a complex mosaic of sharply contrasting kinds of vegetation within limited areas. The main vegetation variations are subtropical moist thickets (mainly along the lower-lying southern slopes, on steep clayey soils of volcanic origin), mistbelt bush clumps (within the mistbelt of the southern and central ridges of the mountain, on rugged quartzitic outcrops with shallow sandy soils), relatively open savanna sandveld (on both deep and shallow quarzitic sands along the relatively dry middle and northern slopes of the mountain), and arid mountain bushveld (along the very arid northern ridges of the mountain). The mountain vegetation grades into plains and slightly undulating plains, including some low hills, with short closed woodland to tall open woodland and poorly developed grass layer. A very small area on rugged summit crests and adjacent steep rocky slopes supporting a mosaic of low, wiry, closed grasslands and scattered closed-canopy bush clumps. Due to frequent mist the surface of rocks and woody vegetation support rich epilithic and epiphytic lichen and bryophyte flora.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for 4 criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. Based on current available information, 10 species meet one or more KBA criteria for this site. The KBA trigger species at this site include birds, plants, and reptiles. The site meets criterion A1 due to the presence of significant proportions of the global populations of 4 threatened species. Effectively the entire global population of one Endangered species is within the site. The site regularly holds 9 individual geographically restricted species, therefore meeting criterion B1. An assemblage of co-occurring range-restricted species in the Reptilia taxonomic group regularly present within the site meets criterion B2. A breeding aggregation of at least 1% of the global population of one species is regularly present at the site, therefore it meets criterion D1. 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).
Additional biodiversity: 14 other potential trigger species meet minimum population parameter thresholds for the site, but presence and/or minimum reproductive units required to meet KBA criteria cannot be confirmed with available data.
Manageability of the site: This site is managed primarily by a protected area management authority, with part of the site managed by a regional conservation authority responsible for enforcing statutory regulations on landuse change in Critical Biodiversity Areas and threatened ecosystems.
Supersedes another site: Blouberg ZA003 [47%]
Delineation rationale: Delineation is centered around a distinctive mountain range identified previously as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area. The site has a large protected area and is categorised as Critical Biodiversity Area and protected area expansion corridor.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Savanna (88%), Artificial - terrestrial (7%)
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Ongoing | |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Scale Unknown/Unrecorded | 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)