Eastern Gamka Karoo (100764)
South Africa, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1c, E
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Eastern Gamka Karoo
Central coordinates: Latitude: -32.6937, Longitude: 22.7465
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 693 to 1182
Area of KBA (km2): 4405.88436
Protected area coverage (%): 0.08
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: Eastern Gamka Karoo is a large terrestrial site that is unprotected, found in the Western Cape, South Africa. A majority of the landscape is irregular to undulating plains covered with dwarf spiny shrubland dominated by Karoo dwarf shrubs (e.g. Chrysocoma ciliata, Eriocephalus ericoides) with rare low trees (e.g. Euclea undulata). Dense stands of drought-resistant grasses cover (especially after abundant rains) broad sandy bottomlands. Narrow riverine flats support a complex of Acacia karroo or Tamarix usneoides thickets (up to 5m tall), and fringed by tall Salsola-dominated shrubland (up to 1.5m high), especially on heavier (and salt-laden) soils on very broad alluvia. In sandy drainage lines Stipagrostis namaquensis may occasionally also dominate. Mesic thicket forms in the far eastern part of this region may also contain Leucosidea sericea, Rhamnus prinoides and Ehrharta erecta. Small patches of succulent karoo occur on flat or only slightly undulating country with prominent parallel stony ridges in places, populated by low scrub where leaf-succulent vygies and small-leaved Karoo shrubs share dominance. Heuweltjies are an important feature of this vegetation they occur at a density of about two per hectare, supporting succulent and salt-tolerant plant assemblages.
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, 4 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 3 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 3 species, therefore meeting criterion E.
Additional biodiversity: 33 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.
Supersedes another site: Karoo National Park ZA081 [1%]
Delineation rationale: Delineation follows distinctive landscape and ecological boundaries along the edges of a large basin, used as rangeland, and partly categorised as Critical Biodiversity Area.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Shrubland (99%)
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Scale Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | 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)