Chrissie Pans (100747)
South Africa, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1c, A1d, A2, B1, B4, E
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Chrissie Pans
Central coordinates: Latitude: -26.3409, Longitude: 30.1860
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 1472 to 1813
Area of KBA (km2): 3423.33409
Protected area coverage (%): 20.37
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: Chrissie Pans is a large terrestrial site with substantal protection, found in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The landscape is characterised by undulating plains, including some low hills and pan depressions. The vegetation is short dense grassland dominated by the usual highveld grass composition with small, scattered rocky outcrops with wiry, sour grasses and some woody species. The area is also known for system of more than 320 pans and boasts the largest natural inland freshwater lake in South Africa, Lake Chrissie (1 150 ha when full).
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, 6 species meet one or more KBA criteria for this site. The KBA trigger species at this site include birds, mammals, and plants. The site meets criterion A1 due to the presence of significant proportions of the global populations of 6 threatened species. The site regularly holds 2 individual geographically restricted species, therefore meeting criterion B1. A quantitative analysis of irreplaceability indicates that the site is 100% irreplaceable for the global persistence of 1 species, therefore meeting criterion E. The site holds a significant proportion of the global extent of 1 threatened ecosystem (meeting criterion A2).
Additional biodiversity: 19 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: Chrissie Pans ZA015 [28%]; Amersfoort - Bethal - Carolina District ZA014 [12%]; Grasslands ZA016 [2%]
Delineation rationale: The site is important habitat for many waterbird species and was previously recognized as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area. With the current delineation boundaries were adjusted to those of a recently proclaimed Protected Environment as well as an existing protected area. The largest remaining fragment of Eastern Highveld Grassland (Endangered) was also included within the delineation, an area classified as Critical Biodiversity Area in a systematic conservation plan.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Grassland (46%), Artificial - terrestrial (42%), Wetland (inland) (11%)
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Scale Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Scale Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | 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)