Eastern Free State Grasslands (100763)
South Africa, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, A1c, B1
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Eastern Free State Grasslands
Central coordinates: Latitude: -28.3325, Longitude: 29.2993
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 1639 to 2288
Area of KBA (km2): 843.11986
Protected area coverage (%): 21.40
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: Eastern Free State Grasslands is a terrestrial site with substantial protection, found in the Free State, South Africa. Most of the landscape is flat to undulating terrain with streams and rivers that drain the foothills of the Drakensberg. Vegetation consists of closed grassland dominated by Eragrostis curvula, Tristachya leucothrix and Themeda triandra. Numerous herb species increase alpha diversity considerably. Embedded within the site are many hills and small mountains carrying Basotho Montane Shrubland. Due to wide range of grazing and fire regimes, the grassland has a patchy appearance. Steep talus slopes and kloofs of the mesas and other mountain flanks support tall, and in places very dense, shrubland dominated by broad-leaved mesophyllous shrubs such as Rhus erosa, Olea europaea subsp. africana, Euclea crispa subsp. crispa, Buddleja salviifolia, Leucosidea sericea, Rhus burchellii, Rhamnus prinoides, Scutia myrtina and Gymnopentzia buxifolia. Mesas are often encircled by striking upper cliffs of Clarens Sandstone. There are also small patches of steep, generally east- and south-facing slopes, with a large altitudinal range supporting tall, closed grassland with Hyparrhenia hirta and Themeda triandra dominant. Protea caffra communities and patches of Leucosidea scrub feature at higher altitudes.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for 2 criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. Based on current available information, 3 species meet one or more KBA criteria for this site. The KBA trigger species at this site include birds and reptiles. The site meets criterion A1 due to the presence of significant proportions of the global populations of 2 threatened species. The site regularly holds 1 individual geographically restricted species, therefore meeting criterion B1.
Additional biodiversity: 15 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 regional conservation authority responsible for enforcing statutory regulations on landuse change in Critical Biodiversity Areas and threatened ecosystems, with part of the site managed by a protected area management authority.
Supersedes another site: Ingula Nature Reserve ZA033 [7%]; Murphy's Rust ZA034 [1%]; Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve ZA035 [0%]
Delineation rationale: Distinctive grassland landscape mostly categorised as Critical Biodiversity Area, with protected areas and Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, falling with in a single Local Municipality.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Grassland (77%), Artificial - terrestrial (17%), Wetland (inland) (5%)
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 |
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)