Steytlerville Karoo (100945)
South Africa, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1c, A1d, A2, B1, B2, B4, E
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Steytlerville Karoo
Central coordinates: Latitude: -33.3450, Longitude: 24.3822
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 121 to 1394
Area of KBA (km2): 6527.73612
Protected area coverage (%): 0.07
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: Steytlerville Karoo is a very large terrestrial site that is unprotected, found in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Varied and diverse landscape at the junction of the Nama-Karoo, Succulent Karoo, Albany Thicket and Fynbos biomes. Mainly flat lowlands and undulating plains. Short (1-2m) and dense succulent thicket with Portulacaria afra often dominant. Where P. afra is naturally uncommon, Euphorbia radyeri is locally dominant and the tree component (Boscia oleoides, Euclea undulata, Pappea capensis) is sparse. Pockets of karroid shrubland (Pentzia incana, Rhigozum obovatum) also occur. Extensive flats and a series of low hills with succulent-rich dwarf shrubland (Pentzia incana, Drosanthemum lique) with scattered bushclumps (Diospyros spp., Grewia robusta, Gymnosporia polyacantha, Searsia longispina) of medium height (2-3m) and solitary small trees (Pappea capensis, Euclea undulata). Patches of renosterveld, dominated by Elytropappus rhinocerotis, occur on cooler south-facing slopes, while Portulacaria afra can be dominant on arid north-facing slopes. On flat lowland regions there is a karoid shrubland vegetation dominated by succulent vygies (Drosanthemum, Faucaria, Glottiphyllum, Ruschia) and asphodeloids, and other succulent shrubs (Euphorbia, Zygophyllum). Local dominance of nonsucculent shrubs such as Rhigozum, Pentzia and Eriocephalus as well as local dominance of C4 grasses of the genera Aristida, Eragrostis and Stipagrostis points to relationships with karoo shrublands typical of the summer-rainfall area. Patches of quartizite fynbos occur on higher portions of the east west ridges.
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, 16 species meet one or more KBA criteria for this site. The KBA trigger species at this site include birds, butterflies, fish, mammals, plants, and reptiles. The site meets criterion A1 due to the presence of significant proportions of the global populations of 6 threatened species. The site regularly holds 10 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. A quantitative analysis of irreplaceability indicates that the site is 100% irreplaceable for the global persistence of 4 species, therefore meeting criterion E. The site holds significant proportions of the global extent of 2 threatened ecosystems (meeting criterion A2) and 6 geographically restricted ecosystems (meeting criterion B4).
Additional biodiversity: 105 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: Greater Addo complex (blank) [6%]; Kouga - Baviaanskloof Complex ZA072 [0%]
Delineation rationale: Distinctive arid plains with Succulent Karoo shrublands and low hills with threatened arid thicket vegetation, partly categorised as Critical Biodiversity Area. Southern portion of site included in landscape conservation initiative.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Shrubland (99%)
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | 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)