Umzimkulu (100964)
South Africa, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, A2, B4, E
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Umzimkulu
Central coordinates: Latitude: -30.2696, Longitude: 29.7582
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 699 to 1592
Area of KBA (km2): 737.00992
Protected area coverage (%): 1.03
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: Umzimkulu is a terrestrial site that has limited protection, found in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A mesic grassland landscape, mainly gently sloping valley bottoms of tall mixed veld dominated by Hyparrhenia hirta and sparsely scattered Acacia sieberiana. Themeda triandra is the dominant grass on veld that has been well managed together with Diheteropogon filifolius, Harpochloa falx and Trachypogon spicatus. Overgrazed areas become dominated by mtshiki species such as Eragrostis curvula, E. plana, Sporobolus africanus and S. pyramidalis. Selective overgrazing causes certain wiregrass species (Elionurus muticus and Aristida junciformis) to become abundant. Includes hilly and rolling landscape dominated by forb-rich, tall, sour Themeda triandra grasslands. Includes small patches of forests are tall (15-20m tall) and multilayered (having two layers of trees, a dense shrubby understorey and a well-developed herb layer).
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, 3 species meet one or more KBA criteria for this site. The KBA trigger species at this site include birds and plants. The site meets criterion A1 due to the presence of significant proportions of the global populations of 2 threatened species. The site regularly holds 2 individual geographically restricted species, therefore meeting criterion B1. A quantitative analysis of irreplaceability indicates that the site is 100% irreplaceable for the global persistence of 2 species, therefore meeting criterion E. The site holds a significant proportion of the global extent of 1 threatened ecosystem (meeting criterion A2).
Additional biodiversity: 28 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 catchment management authority.
Supersedes another site: Southern Drakensberg foothills (blank) [18%]; Umzimkulu complex (blank) [10%]; KwaZulu-Natal Mistbelt Grasslands ZA058 [2%]
Delineation rationale: Threatened grassland remnants categorised as Critical Biodiversity Area and Strategic Water Source Area, falling within a single Local Municipality. Site includes scattered rural settlements and is bounded by timber plantations to the east and west.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Grassland (73%), Artificial - terrestrial (20%), Forest (6%)
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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)