Namaqualand Sandveld South (100880)
South Africa, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1d, A1e, A2, B1, B2, B3a, B4, D1a, E
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Namaqualand Sandveld South
Central coordinates: Latitude: -31.0912, Longitude: 17.8942
System: terrestrial, freshwater, marine
Elevation (m): 1 to 302
Area of KBA (km2): 2730.63859
Protected area coverage (%): 4.50
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: Namaqualand Sandveld South is a large terrestrial site that is unprotected, found in the Western Cape & the Northern Cape. Undulating plains comprising both isolated streets and dune fields of aeolian sand. Scattered 1-1.5m tall shrubs 1-3m in diameter, but dominated by Restionaceae in between, can have a dense canopy cover (50%), but is easily overgrazed to a sparse cover (20%). Restioid and asteraceous fynbos predominate, with localised pockets of proteoid fynbos. There are substantial differences between dune ridges and dune slacks, with dune slacks far more succulent, often tending to Succulent Karoo, and a much higher diversity than surrounding strandveld habitats. Ericaceae are absent, proteoids seldom numerically important, and restioids often dominant. This vegetation is intermediate between Strandveld vegetation types and Namaqualand Heuweltjieveld that occurs on the plains of the Hardeveld. The key distinction of Namaqualand Heuweltjie Strandveld vegetation is that the soils are derived from consolidated marine sediments (sand), whereas Namaqualand Heuweltjieveld soils are derived from terrestrial deposits and are therefore finer textured with a higher base status. Generally, the vegetation is a rich mix of succulent and non-succulent shrubs mostly less than 0.5m tall, up to a maximum of 1m. Mat-forming and creeping succulents are common (e.g. Cephalophyllum ebracteatum, Jordaaniella spongiosum and Vanzijlia annulata). Heuweltjies generally have deeper soils hence taller shrubs but also greater disturbance due to fossorial animal activity therefore more weedy vegetation. The presence of heuweltjie structures (approximately 20-30m diameter) in the landscape give the landdscape a very distinct blotchy appearance when viewed on aerial photographs. There is a small portion of coastal peneplain with mobile dunes. Vegetation is tall shrubland dominated by nonsucculent shrubs as well as some grasses and restioids.
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, 39 species meet one or more KBA criteria for this site. The KBA trigger species at this site include birds, butterflies, mammals, plants, and reptiles. The site meets criterion A1 due to the presence of significant proportions of the global populations of 12 threatened species. Effectively the entire global populations of 1 Endangered and 2 Critically Endangered species are within the site. The site regularly holds 18 individual geographically restricted species, therefore meeting criterion B1. Assemblages of co-occurring range-restricted species in the Asparagales, Asterales, Caryophyllales, and Fabales taxonomic groups regularly present within the site meet 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 3 species, therefore meeting criterion E. The site holds significant proportions of the global extent of 1 threatened ecosystem (meeting criterion A2) and 3 geographically restricted ecosystems (meeting criterion B4).
Additional biodiversity: 88 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.
Supersedes another site: Olifants river estuary ZA078 [0%]
Delineation rationale: Distinctive coastal landscape dominated by sandveld vegetation, categorised as Critical Biodiversity Area.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Shrubland (88%), Artificial - terrestrial (10%)
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | 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)