Swartberg Mountains (100949)
South Africa, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1e, B1, B2, B3a, B3b, B4, E
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Swartberg Mountains
Central coordinates: Latitude: -33.3785, Longitude: 21.9673
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 377 to 1976
Area of KBA (km2): 1794.9387
Protected area coverage (%): 98.85
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: Swartberg Mountains is a large terrestrial site that is fully protected, found in the Western Cape, South Africa. Mainly high peaks, steep north and south facing slopes, deeply dissected in parts, of the rugged east-west oriented Swartberg mountain range. Vegetation is a medium tall shrubland and heathland. Proteoid and restioid fynbos dominate, with ericaceous fynbos at higher altitudes and scrub fynbos at lower altitudes. On steep to very steep, mostly north-facing slopes, deeply dissected in parts. Structurally this is mainly asteraceous, proteoid and restioid fynbos; graminoid fynbos rare. On lower valley slopes and flats a mosaic of low succulent thicket (2m) pockets in a matrix of predominantly succulent-rich karroid shrubland occurs. The matrix may also tend toward arid fynbos or renosterveld shrublands where it occurs on conglomerate outcrops. Thicket pockets are restricted to lower north- and west-facing slopes, and comprise species typical of Gamka Arid Thicket, with Portulacaria afra abundant. Small trees (Euclea undulata, Schotia afra) are typically sparsely distributed, but Acacia karroo may be dominant in some landscapes.
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, 115 species meet one or more KBA criteria for this site. The KBA trigger species at this site include amphibians, birds, butterflies, fish, plants, and reptiles. The site meets criterion A1 due to the presence of significant proportions of the global populations of 18 threatened species. Effectively the entire global population of one Endangered species is within the site. The site regularly holds 90 individual geographically restricted species, therefore meeting criterion B1. Assemblages of co-occurring range-restricted species in the Asparagales, Asterales, Ericales, Fabales, Proteales, Reptilia, and Rosales taxonomic groups regularly present within the site meet criterion B2. Co-occurring species endemic to the Fynbos shrubland terrestrial ecoregion and 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 35 species, therefore meeting criterion E. The site holds significant proportions of the global extent of 4 geographically restricted ecosystems (meeting criterion B4).
Additional biodiversity: 151 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 Biosphere Reserve management authority.
Supersedes another site: Swartberg mountains ZA085 [100%]
Delineation rationale: Existing Important Bird and Biodiversity Area and large protected area (and World Heritage Site), part of Biosphere Reserve.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Shrubland (99%)
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Scale Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | 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)