Langeberg West (100834)
South Africa, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A2, B1, B2, B3a, B3b, B4, E
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Langeberg West
Central coordinates: Latitude: -33.6265, Longitude: 19.7730
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 224 to 1794
Area of KBA (km2): 806.78018
Protected area coverage (%): 69.67
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: Langeberg West is a terrestrial site with substantial protection, found in the Western Cape, South Africa. Complex of gentle to very steep, south-facing slopes, not much dissected over most of the range, but deeply dissected in parts. Ericaceous and restioid fynbos predominate at higher altitudes, with moderately tall to tall proteoid fynbos on middle and lower slopes. Scrub and restioid fynbos are found in habitats with much groundwater. Also includes gentle to steep, north-facing slopes, not much dissected over much of the range. Ravines support Cape thicket. In the western regions low, cupressoid-leaved shrubland (with scattered emergent small trees) is dominated by renosterbos. Elements of shale fynbos are present. Breede Shale Renosterveld grades into Robertson Karoo in the central valley, with karoo shrublands usually occurring on the northern aspects and renosterveld found on the southern aspects, with a decline in the extent of the karoo shrublands to the south. Heuweltjies are very prominent, with either bush clumps in moister areas or succulent shrubs in drier habitats.
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, 25 species meet one or more KBA criteria for this site. The KBA trigger species at this site include birds, fish, and plants. The site meets criterion A1 due to the presence of significant proportions of the global populations of 8 threatened species. Effectively the entire global population of one Critically Endangered species is within the site. The site regularly holds 13 individual geographically restricted species, therefore meeting criterion B1. Assemblages of co-occurring range-restricted species in the Caryophyllales and Proteales 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 7 species, therefore meeting criterion E. The site holds significant proportions of the global extent of 3 threatened ecosystems (meeting criterion A2) and 4 geographically restricted ecosystems (meeting criterion B4).
Additional biodiversity: 201 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.
Supersedes another site: Langeberg Mountains ZA092 [0%]
Delineation rationale: Large protected area and Protected Environment complex, also designated as Strategic Water Source Area. Delineated to follow Important Bird and Biodiversity Area boundaries, including intact habitat adjacent to protected area, categorised as Critical Biodiversity Area.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Shrubland (96%)
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | Ongoing | |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Scale Unknown/Unrecorded | 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)