Golden Gate (100781)
South Africa, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, B1, E
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Golden Gate
Central coordinates: Latitude: -28.4933, Longitude: 28.5895
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 1657 to 3048
Area of KBA (km2): 1010.61904
Protected area coverage (%): 35.58
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: Golden Gate is a large terrestrial site with substantial protection, found in the Free State, South Africa. Much of the area is flat to slightly undulating and undulating terrain with streams and rivers that drain the foothills of the Drakensberg. Closed grassland dominated by Eragrostis curvula, Tristachya leucothrix and Themeda triandra occur across the site. Numerous herb species increase alpha diversity considerably. Due to wide range of grazing and fire regimes, the grassland has a patchy appearance. The landscape also consists of many plateaus and high ridges of mountains separated by often deep valleys. Although many valley slopes are steep, major cliff faces are only occasionally encountered. Vegetation is closed, short grassland with many areas also with Passerina montana-dominated shrubland. The much smaller shrubs, such as Chrysocoma ciliata and Pentzia cooperi, are often very common also in clearly disturbed areas. Within the considerable altitude range in the unit there are many plant species that extend to various altitudinal levels or belts. The medium-tall distinctive grass Merxmuellera macowanii occurs along water courses and drainage lines. Steep slopes of broad valleys support mainly short, sour grasslands, rich in forbs. Protea savannas (grasslands that contain widely scattered trees of Protea caffra) fall within this unit. Sandstone cliffs, a major characteristic of this landscape, create a multitude of special habitats (often fire-protected) for many special plant communities. Also present in the landscape are steep talus slopes and kloofs of the mesas and other mountain flanks supporting tall, 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.
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, butterflies, and mammals. The site meets criterion A1 due to the presence of significant proportions of the global populations of 2 threatened species. The site regularly holds 5 individual geographically restricted species, therefore meeting criterion B1. A quantitative analysis of irreplaceability indicate that the site is 100% irreplaceable for the global persistence of 3 species, therefore meeting criterion E.
Additional biodiversity: 22 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: Rooiberge-Riemland ZA037 [53%]; Golden Gate Highlands National Park ZA036 [32%]
Delineation rationale: Delineation is centered around a large protected area and Protected Environment complex and immediate surrounds that are categorised as Critical Biodiversity Area and Strategic Water Source Area.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Grassland (88%), Artificial - terrestrial (11%)
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)