Mlazi (100865)
South Africa, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, E
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Mlazi
Central coordinates: Latitude: -29.9460, Longitude: 30.9486
System: terrestrial, freshwater, marine
Elevation (m): 10 to 135
Area of KBA (km2): 25.22778
Protected area coverage (%): 17.32
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: Mlazi is a small terrestrial site that has limited protection, found in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Mainly highly dissected undulating coastal plains which presumably used to be covered to a great extent with various types of subtropical coastal forest. Some primary grassland dominated by Themeda triandra still occurs in hilly, high-rainfall areas where pressure from natural fire and grazing regimes prevailed. At present the KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt is affected by an intricate mosaic of very extensive sugarcane fields, timber plantations and coastal holiday resorts, with interspersed secondary Aristida grasslands, thickets and patches of coastal thornveld. Includes patches of species-rich, tall/medium-height subtropical coastal forests occur on coastal (rolling) plains and stabilised coastal dunes. Forests of the coastal plains are dominated by Drypetes natalensis, Englerophytum natalense, Albizia adianthifolia, Diospyros inhacaensis. On dunes, these forests have well-developed tree, shrub and herb layers. Mimusops caffra, Sideroxylon inerme, Dovyalis longispina, Acacia kosiensis and Psydrax obovata subsp. obovata are the most common constituents of the tree layer. The mixed shore has both rocky and sandy habitats.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for 2 criteria described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. Based on current available information, 3 species meet one or more KBA criteria for this site. The KBA trigger species at this site is an amphibian, a bird, and a reptile. The site meets criterion A1 due to the presence of significant proportions of the global populations of 2 threatened species. A quantitative analysis of irreplaceability indicates that the site is 100% irreplaceable for the global persistence of 2 species, therefore meeting criterion E.
Additional biodiversity: 11 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, with part of the site managed by a protected area management authority.
Supersedes another site: Ethekwini south (blank) [89%]
Delineation rationale: Two small protected areas and large connecting patches of threatened grassland and forest categorised as Critical Biodiversity Area and surrounded by urban development. Falling within a single Metropolitan Municipality.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Forest (28%), Artificial - terrestrial (26%), Savanna (24%), Wetland (inland) (16%)
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation 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)