Kouebokkeveld (100829)
South Africa, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1c, A1d, A1e, A2, B1, B2, B3a, B3b, B4, E
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Kouebokkeveld
Central coordinates: Latitude: -32.9892, Longitude: 19.3331
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 508 to 1797
Area of KBA (km2): 1790.96538
Protected area coverage (%): 52.11
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: Kouebokkeveld is a large terrestrial site with substantial protection, found in the Western Cape, South Africa. The site is situated on moderately undulating high plains in the west, with rugged high peaks in the south and southeast, and two linear parallel north-south high mountains in the east, dissected by the Olifants River Valley. The eastern blocks are relatively flat, south- and north-sloping, dissected tablelands. Vegetation is mainly closed restioland in deeper moister sands, with low, sparse shrubs that become denser and restios less dominant in the drier habitats. Proteoid and ericaceous fynbos are found on higher slopes while asteraceous fynbos is more common on lower slopes. Cape thicket is prominent on the lowest slopes. On flat to gently east- or north-sloping tableland, with steeper west-facing slopes (only upper parts in this unit) both being rugged and dominated by rocky outcrops with gullies and flats of deep sand. Isolated mountain peaks occur and a more dissected mountainous terrain occurs in the west.On undulating plains in mountain valleys where alluvium has accumulated alongside rivers and as alluvial fans the vegetation is emergent proteoids in a low medium dense grassy shrubland, structurally primarily asteraceous and proteoid fynbos, with prominent ericaceous fynbos in numerous seeps.
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, 87 species meet one or more KBA criteria for this site. The KBA trigger species at this site include birds, butterflies, fish, plants, and reptiles. The site meets criterion A1 due to the presence of significant proportions of the global populations of 18 threatened species. Effectively the entire global populations of 2 Endangered and 2 Critically Endangered species are within the site. The site regularly holds 58 individual geographically restricted species, therefore meeting criterion B1. Assemblages of co-occurring range-restricted species in the Asparagales, Asterales, Ericales, Proteales, Rosales, and Saxifragales taxonomic groups regularly present within the site meet criterion B2. Co-occurring species endemic to the Fynbos terrestrial bioregion present at the site meet criterion B3. A quantitative analysis of irreplaceability indicates that the site is 100% irreplaceable for the global persistence of 32 species, therefore meeting criterion E. The site holds significant proportions of the global extent of 3 threatened ecosystems (meeting criterion A2) and 2 geographically restricted ecosystems (meeting criterion B4).
Additional biodiversity: 268 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: Cedarberg - Koue Bokkeveld complex ZA080 [67%]
Delineation rationale: Delineation is focused around a large protected area and adjacent remnant patches of threatened ecosystems, falling within a single Local Municipality.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Shrubland (74%), Artificial - terrestrial (22%)
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)