Tankwa-Karoo National Park and Surrounds (100954)
South Africa, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1c, B1, B2, B3a, B4, E
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Tankwa-Karoo National Park and Surrounds
Central coordinates: Latitude: -32.3711, Longitude: 19.7985
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 229 to 1545
Area of KBA (km2): 8446.56432
Protected area coverage (%): 14.47
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: Tankwa-Karoo National Park and Surrounds is a very large terrestrial site with limited protection, found in the Northern Cape & the Western Cape. Dominated by slightly undulating intra-mountain basin sheltered by steep slopes of mountain ranges. The plain is interrupted by a series of solitary dolerite butts and elevated ridges, extensive, flat sheet-washes and deeper incised channels of intermittent rivers. The plains are very sparsely vegetated (low succulent shrubland with Ruschia, Drosanthemum, Aridaria, Augea, Zygophyllum), in extreme precipitation-poor years appearing barren, while the slopes of the koppies and adjacent mountain piedmonts support well-developed medium-tall succulent Euphorbia hamata Pteronia incana shrubland. Small quartz patches occur in the southern Tanqua Basin. Annual flora (Gazania lichtensteinii, Euryops annuus, Ursinia nana) becomes conspicuous with sufficient precipitation, while geophytes and grasses play a subordinate role. Stipagrostis ciliata and S. obtusa can become locally dominant in places. Includes deeply incised valleys (sometimes several hundred metres broad) of intermittent rivers supporting a mosaic of succulent shrublands with Salsola and Lycium alternating with Acacia karroo gallery thickets. The broad sheet-wash plains support sparse vegetation of various Salsola species, often building phytogenic hillocks interrupting the monotonous barren face of a sheet wash. Occasional rainfalls in early winter result in localised displays of annuals and early flowering geophytes along washes. On steep flanks below an escarpment overlooking a basin, generally facing southwest supporting succulent shrubland of medium height with Tylecodon (botterboom) and Euphorbia mauritanica (melkboom) prominent and with undergrowth of both succulent (Aridaria, Crassula) and nonsucculent (Asparagus, Pteronia) shrubs.
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, 46 species meet one or more KBA criteria for this site. The KBA trigger species at this site include birds, butterflies, fish, mammals, and plants. The site meets criterion A1 due to the presence of significant proportions of the global populations of 8 threatened species. The site regularly holds 24 individual geographically restricted species, therefore meeting criterion B1. Assemblages of co-occurring range-restricted species in the Apiales, Asparagales, Caryophyllales, Lamiales, and Malvales taxonomic groups regularly present within the site meet criterion B2. A quantitative analysis of irreplaceability indicates that the site is 100% irreplaceable for the global persistence of 12 species, therefore meeting criterion E. The site holds significant proportions of the global extent of 3 geographically restricted ecosystems (meeting criterion B4).
Additional biodiversity: 157 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: Cedarberg - Koue Bokkeveld complex ZA080 [5%]
Delineation rationale: Large protected area and buffer zone, surrounds, situated in a distinctive desert basin. Partly categorised as Critical Biodiversity Area and including protected area expansion areas.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Shrubland (99%)
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Scale Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | 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)