Magaliesberg (100845)
South Africa, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, A1c, A1d, B2, B3a, B4, D1a, E
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Magaliesberg
Central coordinates: Latitude: -25.7874, Longitude: 27.2757
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 1142 to 1731
Area of KBA (km2): 1515.11059
Protected area coverage (%): 28.56
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: Magaliesberg is a large terrestrial site with substantial protection and OECM coverage, found in North West, South Africa. Mainly savanna dominated by various species of Acacia in the bottomlands and plains as well as deciduous woodlands of varying height and density on the lower hillsides. Herbaceous layer is dominated by grasses. On rocky hills and ridges often west-east trending with more dense woody vegetation often on the south-facing slopes associated with distinct floristic differences (e.g. preponderance of Acacia caffra on the southern slopes). Tree cover elsewhere is variable. Tree and shrub layers are often continuous. Herbaceous layer is dominated by grasses. Includes small areas of deciduous, open to dense short thorny woodland, dominated by Acacia species with herbaceous layer of mainly grasses on deep, high base-status and some clay soils on plains and lowlands.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for 4 criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. Based on current available information, 8 species meet one or more KBA criteria for this site. The KBA trigger species at this site include birds, mammals, plants, and reptiles. The site meets criterion A1 due to the presence of significant proportions of the global populations of 5 threatened species. The site regularly holds 2 individual geographically restricted species, therefore meeting criterion B1. An assemblage of co-occurring range-restricted species in the Caryophyllales taxonomic group regularly present within the site meets criterion B2. An aggregation of at least 1% of the global population of one species is regularly present at the site, therefore it meets criterion D1. A quantitative analysis of irreplaceability indicates that the site is 100% irreplaceable for the global persistence of 1 species, therefore meeting criterion E. The site holds significant proportions of the global extent of 2 geographically restricted ecosystems (meeting criterion B4).
Additional biodiversity: 6 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: Magaliesberg ZA018 [70%]
Delineation rationale: Large Protected Environment complex, also designated as Critical Biodiversity Area and Important Bird and Biodiversity Area. Western extension beyond former Important Bird and Biodiversity Area includes a large intact patch mountain bushveld vegetation.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Savanna (85%), Artificial - terrestrial (8%)
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)