Wakkerstroom (100975)
South Africa, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1c, A1d, A2, B1, B2, B3a, B4, E
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Wakkerstroom
Central coordinates: Latitude: -27.3606, Longitude: 30.4052
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 903 to 2181
Area of KBA (km2): 5082.40029
Protected area coverage (%): 17.27
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: Wakkerstroom is a very large terrestrial site that has limited protection, found in KwaZulu-Natal & Mpumalanga. A large portion of the site is a continuation of the Escarpment that links the southern and northern Drakensberg. It straddles this divide and is comprised of low mountains and undulating plains. The vegetation comprises predominantly short montane grasslands on the plateaus and the relatively flat areas, with short forest and Leucosidea thickets occurring along steep, mainly east-facing slopes and drainage areas. L. sericea is the dominant woody pioneer species that invades areas as a result of grazing mismanagement. Includes undulating plains with moderately steep slopes, but valley basins are wide and flat and mountainous areas occur mostly along the northern and eastern boundary. Tall closed grassland rich in forbs and dominated by Tristachya leucothrix, Themeda triandra and Hyparrhenia hirta. Evergreen woody vegetation is characteristic on rocky outcrops.
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, 29 species meet one or more KBA criteria for this site. The KBA trigger species at this site include birds, butterflies, fish, and plants. The site meets criterion A1 due to the presence of significant proportions of the global populations of 16 threatened species. The site regularly holds 16 individual geographically restricted species, therefore meeting criterion B1. Assemblages of co-occurring range-restricted species in the Aves and Gentianales 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 7 species, therefore meeting criterion E. The site holds significant proportions of the global extent of 2 threatened ecosystems (meeting criterion A2) and 1 geographically restricted ecosystem (meeting criterion B4).
Additional biodiversity: 29 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: Grasslands ZA016 [74%]; Greater Itala complex (blank) [0%]
Delineation rationale: Refinement of existing Important Bird and Biodiversity Area, including large Protected Environment and intact grassland vegetation and numerous important wetlands, partly categorised as Critical Biodiversity Area and Strategic Water Source Area.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Grassland (76%), Artificial - terrestrial (18%)
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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)